The Tasmanian government has confirmed the construction contract for the AFL high-performance centre at Kingston is a fixed-price deal, not a cost-plus arrangement.
Sport Minister Nick Duigan confirmed the contract terms in the Legislative Council on Thursday, a day after not directly answering the same question.
The centre is a $115 million build, funded with $105 million from the state government and $10 million from the AFL.
The construction contract is between the Tasmania Football Club and builder Fairbrother.
Independent Nelson MLC Meg Webb, who put the question to Duigan, said the answer mattered because of taxpayers’ “financial stake” in the project.
She pointed to the government’s contribution and its oversight role on the project steering committee and asked whether any legal advice prevented the contract terms from being disclosed.
“I am able to confirm that it is a fixed-price contract between the Tasmania Football Club and Fairbrother,” Duigan answered.
The centre will be the home base for the Tasmania Devils, who are due to enter the AFL and AFLW in 2028.
A dedicated high-performance facility was one of the AFL’s conditions for granting Tasmania its licence in 2023.
The price has almost doubled since the project began. In May 2025, the government revealed a $45 million blowout, lifting the total cost to $115 million.
Thursday’s confirmation ended a back-and-forth that began a day earlier.
On Wednesday, independent Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage asked the same question but did not receive a straight answer.
Duigan said the club managed the contract.
“That is a question you probably need to put to the club, given it is a contract between the club and Fairbrother,” he told Armitage.
“But it’s government money,” she replied.
The main training oval is due to be completed by October 2027, with the full centre expected to be finished by mid-2028.
