The founder of Tasmania’s pro-stadium campaign is urging opponents to accept the result and unite behind the state’s new AFL team after the Macquarie Point stadium passed parliament.
Mark Brown, who created the ‘Yes AFL Team, Yes Stadium’ Facebook group, has extended an “olive branch” to those who fought against the project.
“We can leave the division and hostility in the past and come together to support what we all dreamed about – our very own Tasmanian AFL and AFLW teams,” he said.
The Legislative Council approved the stadium order on Thursday evening, with nine members voting in favour and five against.
The vote secures the Tasmania Devils’ entry into the national competition.
Brown said the approval marked a turning point for the state.
“This is about more than sport,” he said. “It’s about our identity, our future and coming together as a community to embrace a long-held dream.”
However, opponents have signalled they will continue their campaign.
Our Place Hobart spokesperson Roland Browne said the parliamentary vote was “just the beginning” of challenges facing the project.
“There are no guarantees that this stadium is ever going to be built,” he said.
“And we will be bringing to the public’s attention every issue to do with the increasing cost.”
He also criticised deals struck with crossbench members Bec Thomas and Dean Harriss to secure votes.
“These deals are laughable. They rely on this government honouring its word,” he said, adding this would be “a most unlikely outcome”.
How Legislative Council members voted on the stadium:
✅ Nick Duigan
✅ Jo Palmer
✅ Kerry Vincent
✅ Luke Edmunds
✅ Sarah Lovell
✅ Tania Rattray
✅ Bec Thomas
✅ Dean Harriss
✅ Casey Hiscutt
❌ Cassy O’Connor
❌ Rosemary Armitage
❌ Ruth Forrest
❌ Mike Gaffney
❌ Meg Webb
