Business leaders have warned Tasmania’s economic future is at risk as the Macquarie Point stadium debate enters its most crucial week yet, saying the project is essential for keeping young people in the state.
Taste of Summer chair Jarrod Nation described the stadium as a “Trojan horse for business investment” that would unlock $600 million in Commonwealth and AFL funding.
“Without a spend of a billion ($1.13 billion) or whatever the number is, we’ll see that businesses won’t invest in their business,” he said.
“We’ll see that money get invested elsewhere like the Gold Coast. And that would be a mighty shame for Tasmania and a mighty shame for jobs in Tasmania.”
Nation delivered his message after speaking to around 170 people at a forum at KGV Oval in Glenorchy on Tuesday, following a similar event in Launceston the day before.
He pointed to the Taste of Summer’s economic impact as evidence the stadium model could work.
The festival runs for just seven to nine days a year but draws 30,000 interstate visitors and injects nearly $30 million into regional Tasmania.
Hospitality Tasmania CEO Steve Old also criticised stadium opponents, accusing older Tasmanians of blocking opportunities for younger generations.
He said hotels were running at about 50% occupancy through winter, with the stadium expected to push that up to between 75 and 80%.
“The bit that makes me so enthused about it is the younger generation wanting this,” he said.
“If you’re over 60, over 65, I can see why you might not want it. You want Tasmania to be a quiet place that you can retire to. I don’t want that.”
“We need to look at the younger community who are saying they want this stadium built.”
Old said young Tasmanians shouldn’t have to leave the state for opportunities available elsewhere.
“Why should you have to travel to Melbourne or Sydney to watch a concert? Why should you have to go there to be a builder? Why should you go there to do things?” he asked.
“We should give everyone in Tasmania the same opportunity every other state has and I think this stadium is going to bring that for us.”
He reminded Legislative Council members that voters would remember how they voted.
“The reality is to those upper house members … who you represent is who you need to vote for and they need to be aware that if they vote yes, they vote no, we’ll all remember it,” he said.
Nation warned business confidence would be “shot” if the stadium was rejected, noting that the federal and AFL funding couldn’t be redirected to other projects.
The Legislative Council will vote on the project next week, with the outcome likely to hinge on two or three undecided members.
