Tasmanians will take to the streets twice in November as both sides of the Macquarie Point stadium debate rally supporters in a bid to sway parliament.
Anti-stadium group Our Place has called a protest against the $1.13 billion project for November 23, while Yes AFL Team, Yes Stadium backers will hold their own event a week later on November 30.
Our Place spokesperson Roland Browne said opponents were worried about the government’s spending priorities.
“We want Tasmanians to come together and demand parliament not be conned into signing a blank cheque drawn on Tasmania’s future,” he said.
Author Richard Flanagan will also join the anti-stadium rally, saying the opposition goes beyond sport.
He said it is about jobs, health, education, democracy and the economic future of the state.
“We need the biggest turn-out possible to make the point that the stadium must be stopped if Tasmania is to have a future,” he said.
On the other side of the debate, pro-stadium organiser Mark Brown said his group’s 1pm rally at Parliament Lawns would show strong public backing for the project.
“We need to make sure that Salamanca Lawns is full with no green space showing,” he told supporters.
“This is our one and only chance to prove that we are in fact the majority that is no longer silent.”
Our Place has launched a $50,000 fundraising drive to support its campaign, including a $10,000 donation from an anonymous contributor.
Pro-stadium supporters are funding their own signage to promote the event.
An order to approve the stadium will be debated in the lower house when parliament resumes in November, with an upper house vote expected in early December.
