Premier Jeremy Rockliff has assured Tasmanians that the state’s deal with the AFL for a new Macquarie Point stadium remains on track, despite missing two key contractual deadlines.
The government failed to secure the required planning and environmental approvals by the June 30 deadline set out in the contract with the AFL, with the Tasmanian Planning Commission still assessing the proposal under the Projects of State Significance process.
A second deadline for obtaining approval from the Public Works Committee has also been missed.
Rockliff blamed Labor for the delays, saying the AFL had granted the government some flexibility due to the early election.
“When Dean Winter blew up the parliament and forced an election, he put in jeopardy Tasmanian young people’s dreams to be playing for their own AFL and AFLW team,” he said.
“The AFL accept the fact that we are having an election because Dean Winter forced us to and have allowed and will allow that flexibility for a new returned Tasmanian government to continue on working through those arrangements.”
Independent MLC Meg Webb earlier questioned whether the missed deadlines mean the state is now in breach of the deal and if that could render the agreement void.
“If these missed deadlines are to be renegotiated, there are serious questions surrounding when such renegotiations can occur and by whom,” Webb said.
“Further, if parts of the deal to do with obtaining environmental and planning approvals and the sign off by the Parliamentary Public Works Committee can be renegotiated, why not other elements of the deal?”
She has called for assurances that any renegotiations won’t happen during the caretaker period, urging they be delayed until after the new parliament is sworn in.
The stadium at Macquarie Point is a key part of Tasmania’s bid for its own AFL team, with the government previously insisting the terms of the deal were non-negotiable.
Both the Liberals and Labor have pledged to keep the project moving, along with the necessary enabling legislation, if elected.
