Labor’s Luke Edmunds has reaffirmed his support for the Macquarie Point stadium, one week out from the Pembroke Legislative Council election.
During his campaign launch at Wentworth Park in Bellerive on Saturday, Edmunds acknowledged the stadium “certainly comes up as an issue” but claimed “there’s more support than people actually realise.”
“We support it because we know that it will provide extra jobs in the economy, it delivers the club that Tasmanians deserve and we also need to keep as many young people in this state as we can,” Edmunds said.
Labor Leader Dean Winter, who stood alongside Edmunds, conceded the government’s approach had been flawed.
“The sales job from Jeremy Rockliff has been about as bad as it possibly could have been,” he said, but maintained getting an AFL team would create jobs and inspire youth participation in sport.
Edmunds, who has represented Pembroke for two and a half years, said housing is his top priority.
He said he “fights tooth and nail to get more housing built” and regularly assists locals struggling to find accommodation.
“I deal with constituents weekly who can’t get a roof over their head or are fleeing domestic violence,” he said. “As a renter myself, I’ll continue to advocate for that.”
The Labor candidate also strongly opposed privatisation of government businesses, arguing it leads to “worse services and higher costs.”
“The money that those government businesses bring in helps pay for our schools and hospitals,” Edmunds said.
“The short-term sugar hit is not going to be the way we get out of Tasmania’s budget woes.”
Edmunds is running against independent candidates Allison Ritchie and Tony Mulder, Greens candidate Carly Allen and Shooters, Fishers, Farmers candidate Steve Loring.
Independent candidate Tony Mulder this weekend revealed he will be asking his supporters to preference Labor incumbent Luke Edmunds over fellow candidate Alison Ritchie, despite Mulder’s liberal-leaning background.
“Having served as an independent in the Legislative Council with both Edmunds & Ritchie, both with Labor roots, Luke is far better suited to the Legislative Council role,” Mulder said.
“The hard work in councils, be they legislative or local, is not in populist photo opportunities but in the hard grind of researching issues, engaging in public debate and making meaningful contributions to legislation, in committees, briefings, negotiations and in the party room.”
