Independent Braddon MP Craig Garland will move a motion calling for a referendum on Hobart’s Macquarie Point stadium when Parliament reconvenes in early May.
The push comes after the state government announced plans to bypass standard planning processes and introduce special legislation to advance the project.
“This referendum is one way of determining if there is social licence,” Garland told Local Radio’s Mornings program.
Garland claims there is significant community opposition to the stadium, particularly in his electorate.
“The overwhelming message coming back, particularly in the Braddon electorate, is that 65% [are] against this stadium,” he said.
“We’re in a debt crisis at the moment. We’ve already got existing stadiums that can do the job.”
The independent MP says it is an example of the government “trying to railroad something through despite the community opposition to it”.
“We live in a democracy. We’re in a minority government. They don’t have a mandate to do what they please,” Garland said.
When questioned about the state’s contractual obligations with the AFL, which requires a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point by 2029 as part of Tasmania’s deal to secure a team, Garland suggested renegotiation is possible.
“Negotiations can always be continued. You can always go back to the table,” he said.
“The fact that the AFL is putting this onerous condition on us to give us a side, we have to go into a heap of debt and probably into a recession to achieve that. That’s just wrong.”
In response, a state government spokesperson said they would not entertain Garland’s idea.
“No. Parliament – as the representatives of the people – will have the final vote,” they told Pulse.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff says he hopes construction on the stadium will commence by Christmas if his special enabling legislation passes parliament in July.
The Premier defended the decision to fast-track the project, saying it would create significant employment opportunities for local workers and apprentices.
“This is not just a southern based project, this is a Tasmanian project that all Tasmanians can be very proud of that will deliver a Tasmanian team of which I know there are young boys and girls excited about that opportunity in all corners of the state,” he said on Sunday.
“When it comes to the visitor economy, when it comes to hotels, pubs, clubs, cafes, you need the enabler.”
“The enabler for a team, the enabler for economic investment, the enabler for transport infrastructure, the enabler for pedestrian access … you’ve got to have the enabler.”
“And the enabler is the stadium.”
Labor announced their support of the new stadium approval pathway on Sunday, but said they would be subjecting the government to intense scrutiny.
A motion by Independent MLC Meg Webb calling on the state government to renegotiate its stadium deal with the AFL was voted down in the Legislative Council last week.
