Dozens of ‘No Stadium’ protestors gathered in Launceston on Sunday to rally against the proposed Macquarie Point stadium.
The ‘Yes AFL Team, No Stadium’ group, made up of around 100 people, were joined by politicians Jacqui Lambie, Rosalie Woodruff, Ruth Forrest, Meg Webb and Lara Alexander.
While speaking at the event, Senator Lambie claimed that Launceston is the football capital of Tasmania and that the stadium deal is “blackmail.”
“Since when did the southerns become experts on AFL. What’s happened?” Lambie said.
“It’s always been the capital of AFL in Tasmania is bloody Launceston, let’s be honest about that.”
“If you want to spend money a stadium there is absolutely nothing wrong with the one you’ve got over there.”
“We’ve got people that are homeless, some of the worst educational results out there across the country, we have one of the worst health systems and they’re worried about building a brand new stadium with a roof”.
“There has been no other [state] around the country that has been blackmailed, that says you will build a stadium with a roof on it before you get your AFL team.”
The estimated cost of the stadium is $715 million, but critics argue it could exceed $1 billion and that the money would be better spent on health or education.
The state government remains committed to the AFL team and stadium, arguing that it will boost the state’s economy and fund other sectors like health and education – while the ‘Yes AFL Team, Yes Stadium’ group have printed and distributed over 35,000 stickers to all parts of Australia.
