Tasmanian Labor leader Dean Winter has demanded urgent clarification from Premier Jeremy Rockliff over the government’s plans to legislate approval for the Macquarie Point stadium.
In a strongly worded letter to the Premier, Winter criticised the government’s decision to abandon the independent planning process before public hearings could take place.
“This is an admission by you of your government’s impending failure to usher the stadium project successfully through the independent planning process you initiated,” Winter wrote.
“Labor rejects outright that you have evidenced that the Tasmanian Planning Commission or any of its commissioners is subject to apprehended bias.”
The opposition leader highlighted a potential $329.7 million funding gap, based on the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s estimated total cost of $959.7 million against the government’s funding commitments.
“You promised Tasmanian Government capital expenditure on the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium will be capped at $375 million and ‘not one red cent more’, and repeated the commitment more than 100 times,” Winter stated.
The letter raised concerns about Minister Eric Abetz’s suggestion that Parliament could decide whether the stadium has a roof.
“Is it a requirement of your agreement with the AFL or not? If it is a requirement, why is your Minister suggesting Parliament could simply remove it in the debate?” Winter asked.
Despite his criticisms, Winter reaffirmed Labor’s support for the AFL and AFLW teams and recognised the stadium’s importance to securing those licences.
“I want to see a stadium built, and I want it to be the best project for Tasmania it can be. I’m offering to work in good faith to make that happen,” he wrote.
Winter has requested a briefing on the project and the government’s proposed approach before Parliament resumes on May 6, including clarification on how the legislation will affect construction timeframes.
He claimed that Minister Eric Abetz declined the opportunity to provide the opposition with a briefing on the project earlier this year.
In a statement to Pulse, a government spokesperson took aim at Winter’s comments.
“It’s very disappointing to see Mr Winter now walking back his unequivocal support for the stadium. He’s now back where Rebecca White was,” they said.
“It’s impossible to tell what Labor really stands for.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said on Sunday that he hopes construction on the stadium will commence by Christmas if his special enabling legislation passes parliament in July.
