The Premier has again told the Greens the government will only invest $375 million into the Macquarie Point stadium, equivalent to what the state spends on health every month and a half.
“And we’ll be doing it once. We invest some $375 million every 42 days in health, as an example and a comparison,” Jeremy Rockliff said.
The Premier’s comments come after Greens MPs questioned the stadium’s initial budget of $715 million, suggesting that ‘only state Liberal politicians’ believed it could be built for that amount.
Updated cost estimates revealed in a Project of State Significance application on Wednesday showed the stadium’s price tag had increased to $775 million.
“Premier, even if you somehow secure some private money for this project, nobody is going to sign a blank cheque for all the inevitable future cost blow-outs,” Helen Burnett said.
“Premier, will you finally admit this project is a massive own goal that will cost Tasmanians dearly?”
Rockliff said the project is an “investment into our economy and the Tasmanian people”.
“You might not like it, I like it and I think it is a worthy investment in partnership, of course, with the private sector, creating jobs, creating opportunity and creating aspiration for thousands of young Tasmanians,” he said.
“Boys and girls, who live day by day wanting to be in an elite competition such as the AFL and AFLW and will have the opportunity to do so right here in their own backyard in Tasmania.”
“As I go out and listen people want investment into health, education, housing, cost of living, of which is contained well and truly in our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s future, but they also want a future for their young people.”
Greens MP Vica Bayley remains adamant Rockliff will “spin the stadium’s costs” to “cover up just how big it really is”.
“The government is now saying the stadium will cost $775 million, but a close look at their own documents shows the total cost of the project is in fact $830 million,” he said.
“This $830 million figure includes $55 million on things like kitchen fit-outs and a PA system. These are critical components, you simply can’t have a stadium without them.”
“They say they’re capping taxpayer funding to $375 million, but the budget papers show Macquarie Point Development Corporation, a government agency, is responsible for additional costs.”
