The Greens are demanding the state government release an updated cost estimate for the Macquarie Point stadium before parliament resumes next week.
Greens deputy leader Vica Bayley said the House of Assembly passed a motion last May calling on the government to be transparent about cost escalations, with a deadline of August 11.
“There has been 3 cost blowouts already that gets us to $1.13 billion and no one genuinely expects that it’ll stop there,” he said.
Bayley said the government and Macquarie Point Development Corporation would have already done the work on an updated figure.
“I think it’s in the interests of every Tasmanian taxpayer and indeed all those people who are facing job cuts and services cuts to know exactly how much the government is prepared to spend on a 3rd AFL stadium here in Nipperluna, Hobart,” he said.
Government minister Bridget Archer dismissed the push, saying the Greens have made it “unmistakable that they oppose this project and that they will do everything that they can both to slow it down and to blow out those costs.”
“Ultimately, they want to see that project fail,” she said.
Archer said the project has rigorous assessment processes for contracts and procurement.
She said releasing information mid-process would compromise the integrity of those processes.
“It wouldn’t be appropriate to give that kind of information on the way through, because it actually compromises the integrity of those processes,” she said.
Bayley said the Greens would continue to scrutinise the project regardless of their opposition to it.
“Our job as parliamentarians is to scrutinise this government,” he said.
“We oppose the stadium and will continue to oppose the stadium, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t scrutinise it every step of the way.”
The project budget officially remains at $1.13 billion, with the stadium expected to be completed in time for the 2031 AFL season.
Bulk earthworks began at the site last month, with Tasmanian company Hazell Brothers leading site preparation and archaeological investigations through to mid-2027.
