They might both be among over 100,000 people who hold founding memberships to the Tasmania Devils AFL team, but the state’s major political leaders have continued to clash over the construction of a new multi-purpose stadium at Hobart’s Macquarie Point.
At the Sky People’s Forum on Wednesday, Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff was asked if a $375 million state government contribution cap announced for the project risked creating a funding black hole.
“No, we’ve been very clear …. The stadium is part of bringing the AFL team to Tasmania, so we can bring the aspiration and give out kids that aspiration, our boys and girls, to play in the national competition for their own AFL team and their own song, their own colours,” he said.
“The AFL stadium, of course, which is more than just an AFL stadium. It’s about also bringing entertainment from internationally and the mainland … right here to Tasmania.”
Rockliff argued the stadium would be an economic enabler for Tasmania, insisting the government’s capped $375 million budget was sufficient.
“The rest, of course, will come from the private sector,” he said.
“We can have both in Tasmania. We can secure our own AFL team and invest in the areas that I know Tasmanians really care about and that is cost of living, health, housing and our schools.”
When asked if she was jeopardising the team by opposing the current stadium deal, White again said the team was “not at risk under us”.
“I’m a very proud and passionate footy supporter … I want Tasmanians to have their own team … I think [there’s] a lot of people who share that view as well, it doesn’t mean that we agree there needs to be a stadium though,” she said.
“I’ve been very clear that it’s not our priority to put taxpayer funds into a project like that when we’ve got people who can’t access healthcare, who haven’t got housing. Our education outcomes are the worst in the nation.”
“I want a Tassie team as much as anybody else who wants a Tassie team and that won’t be at risk.”
Rockliff accused White of not being truthful about the team’s future if renegotiations were to occur, while White accused Rockliff of irresponsibly leaving Treasury and Cabinet out of the stadium costings.
“100,000 Tasmanians have signed up to the Tassie Devils and that speaks volumes. It is fantastic,” Rockliff said.
“With respect to yourself, Rebecca, you’ve been all over the place on this, trying to kill the team and the dream every step of the way or maybe not.”
