The Tasmanian Greens have forked out $320 for a Jetstar flight – extra legroom included – for AFL boss Andrew Dillon, in the hope he will fly down to hear firsthand what voters think about the proposed Macquarie Point stadium.
The party wants Dillon in Tasmania on election day this Saturday to hear what they say is strong anti-stadium sentiment from locals.
Coincidentally, Saturday is also when stadium supporters will hold a ‘YES Stadium’ march from Hobart’s Queens Domain to North Hobart Oval.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said the party was fed up with Dillon only hearing from Liberal and Labor politicians about the project.
“So we bought him a ticket so he can come on down to beautiful Tasmania on election day and hear it from people’s mouths themselves,” she said.
Woodruff said the move came after the party wrote to Dillon twice with no reply.
The ticket would have Dillon landing in Hobart as thousands of Tasmanians head to the polls, with the stadium expected to be a major talking point.
“We’ve tried to speak to Andrew Dillon multiple times and offered to fly to Melbourne and speak to him. This is an opportunity for Andrew Dillon to listen to Tasmanians themselves,” Woodruff said.
The Greens have vowed to scrap the stadium plan, which is currently tied to securing a licence for the Tasmania Devils AFL team.
Woodruff said voters keep telling her the money would be better spent elsewhere.
“They want the Greens in a balance of power because we are the only party fighting to stop the stadium and put the money into healthcare and housing and protect the environment,” she said.
“Listen to the overwhelming majority of people who want healthcare and housing instead of a new stadium.”
