Labor leader Josh Willie says the state government must deal with “significant challenges” raised in a new planning report on the Macquarie Point stadium, as he refuses to reveal his party’s stance on the project.
Willie said Labor would take some time to consider the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s findings before deciding how to vote on the contentious Hobart waterfront development.
“We accept the taskforce report that went to the AFL and the business case for the stadium and team being based in the south,” Willie said.
“That said, this report raises a number of challenges.”
The commission flagged concerns about transport, noise, access and financing, ultimately recommending the project should not go ahead.
Willie repeatedly refused to guarantee Labor’s support when pressed by reporters on Wednesday afternoon.
He appeared to back away from his previous comments of having ‘unconditional support’ for the development.
“We’re not going to be rushed,” he said. “These are big decisions for Tasmania’s future.”
He said it was now up to Premier Jeremy Rockliff and his government to explain how they would respond.
“We want to see their response,” Willie said. “There are significant challenges that need to be addressed.”
Rockliff wants the stadium legislation through parliament by the end of the year, giving Labor little time to make its decision.
Willie would not be drawn on whether his party might vote against the project, saying only he would not deal in “hypotheticals”.
The stadium remains central to Tasmania’s bid for an AFL licence, with the league making it a condition of entry.
The government must now convince both Labor and the upper house that the project is still viable.
Rockliff insisted the stadium “is constructible” and said the report had strengthened his resolve to push ahead.
He brushed off suggestions of Labor opposition.
“Labor have been strong bipartisan supporters of this in recent times,” Rockliff said.
“That hasn’t changed with the new leader of the opposition, who has previously said that he’ll provide unconditional support for the stadium.”
