The Legislative Council has knocked back a push for the state government to reopen negotiations with the AFL over Hobart’s controversial Macquarie Point stadium project.
The motion, brought forward by Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb, was defeated 10–4 during a debate on Tuesday that focused on the stadium’s location, timeline and financial viability.
It comes after reports by economist Nicholas Gruen and the Tasmanian Planning Commission raised serious questions about the project’s value and impact.
“If we are to be bullied forwards on this pathway to this stadium, what we risk is as serious as the credit rating of our state and the safety of Tasmanian lives,” Webb said.
“That is the level of irresponsibility that is being demanded by the ‘just build it’ government and the ‘me too, me too opposition’ in this state.”
” was not elected to bow before bullies but to stand up for the best interests of Tasmanians and my electorate and to make sound, transparent and evidence-based decisions.”
Webb argued the motion would’ve given the government a chance to revisit the deal and act in the public interest.
According to the Gruen Report, the stadium is projected to blow out the government’s $775 million budget by an extra $321 million – taking the total cost well past $1 billion.
The Tasmanian Planning Commission’s draft assessment, which legal advice says should be treated cautiously, flagged issues around public safety, pedestrian access and the stadium’s impact on the city.
“The AFL deal runs roughshod over the best interests of the Tasmanian people,” Webb said.
“Having signed us up to an unnecessarily detrimental deal, the Rockliff government are now having to mislead Tasmanians and mismanage this project in an attempt to try and save face.”
Leader of Government Business Leonie Hiscutt flatly rejected the motion and again insisted the stadium a non-negotiable part of securing a Tasmanian AFL team.
“Let me be very, very clear. No Macquarie Point stadium equals no AFL team. It goes together,” she said.
“The extremists and the anti-development voices are against the stadium because they know that without it, Tasmania’s dream of having an AFL team … will die.”
Hobart MP Cassy O’Connor took aim at the AFL’s demands, arguing no other club has been forced to build a new stadium just to join the league.
“We absolutely should be renegotiating that deal … it is a form of emotional blackmail that we’re dealing with here,” she said.
“No stadium, no team. That’s what the Premier is saying to us. That’s what the AFL is saying to us. They never said it to any other team from any other state.”
“We should never have signed that deal … and we should certainly be renegotiating it.”
But Elwick MLC Bec Thomas said she could not back the motion.
“I want it to be clear that my position on this motion is not to be extrapolated as a position on the stadium,” she said.
“I will make an informed decision when the time is right. Now is simply not that time.”
The government is exploring the possibility of using special enabling legislation to push the project through if needed.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said on Tuesday that Parliament will still have the final say, regardless of how the project is progressed.
