A Tasmanian Legislative Council member has accused Premier Jeremy Rockliff of intimidation tactics over the controversial AFL stadium project.
Independent MLC Ruth Forrest took to Facebook last night to condemn the Premier’s statement to Pulse that Tasmania’s AFL team bid would fail if MPs didn’t vote for stadium legislation.
“Threats, intimidation and coercion are unacceptable in any setting. I urge the Premier to tone down the threats and intimidation as it is bordering on the unlawful,” Forrest wrote.
She cited Tasmania’s Criminal Code, which states interfering with parliamentary members’ duties through “threats or intimidation” constitutes a crime.
“I will not be threatened, coerced or bullied into blindly accepting or agreeing to a piece of legislation I am yet to see,” Forrest said.
Rockliff yesterday told Pulse that unless enabling legislation for the Macquarie Point stadium passes, the state’s AFL team bid will collapse.
“Every MP will get a vote on whether the stadium will go ahead. Yes or No. If the vote is no, it is all over,” Rockliff said.
“There will be no ongoing POSS. There will be no stadium. There will be no team.”
During today’s Question Time, Greens Deputy Leader Vica Bayley compared the Premier to fictional mob boss Tony Soprano.
“Mafia-style standover tactics would have been well beneath the old Jeremy Rockliff. But since you’ve sold out to the AFL, you’ve completely changed,” Bayley said.
“You’ve spent the last few weeks running a Paul Lennon impersonation, and now you’re doing your best Tony Soprano.”
Rockliff defended his position, saying there are “very strict timelines” for the construction of the stadium.
“We’ve got to get on with the job,” he said.
“You need the 23,000-seat stadium. You need the 1,500-seat convention centre.”
The Premier said he had a “lengthy conversation” with Forrest and said he respected her views, but remained committed to the project.
Forrest, who joined a delegation of Tasmanian MPs on a fact-finding mission to Adelaide Oval over the weekend, maintains she will continue representing Tasmanians’ best interests despite the pressure.
” I will not accept any blame for any failures that may occur related to the success or otherwise of the team and any stadium that may or may not be built,” she said.
“Any such failure will clearly reflect the government’s mishandling of such an important matter from the outset and the unwillingness to listen to voices outside their echo chamber.”
