Premier Jeremy Rockliff has again said he is “canvassing all options” when it comes to potentially bypassing standard planning processes to get the Macquarie Point stadium over the line.
The $775 million project, central to Tasmania’s AFL bid, has faced setbacks in recent weeks, after a scathing report from the state’s planning commission raised doubts about its viability.
“I’m passionate about this project,” the Premier told Parliament on Tuesday in response to questions from the Greens.
“[I am] standing up to political organisations like yours that oppose every single damn thing that goes on in Tasmania.”
“Not only oppose things that go ahead, but actually want to stop things that are already employing many, many thousands of Tasmanians.”
Rockliff said public submissions made during the current Project of State Significance (POSS) process would be “taken account of”, regardless of how the project ends up being considered for approval.
He also faced heat over his long-standing pledge to cap the taxpayer contribution at $375 million, promised to be offset by private investment.
“Your day one flagship election promise was to somehow cap the taxpayer contribution to the stadium at $375 million,” the Greens asked.
“Given you signed a dud deal with the AFL and another dud deal with the federal government, we’d expect you to do it again with a private partner.”
Asked whether any private funding agreement would be made public before MPs vote on the project, Rockliff said he would “seek advice around that”.
“We will attract private investment. The whole Macquarie Point precinct is absolutely right for public investment, but also private investment as well,” he said.
“That is the point of the stadium infrastructure, where the government can reach in, develop, build with the potential support of the private sector, but also creating that enabler for other private businesses.”
Rockliff reiterated that “Parliament will have their say”, whether the project goes through the usual planning channels or requires special legislation.
