Footy Classified host Eddie McGuire says the federal government will need to tip in more to build Tasmania’s Macquarie Point stadium, as the AFL presses ahead with Tasmania’s 2028 entry.
His comments came as a new report by economist Nicholas Gruen warned the stadium could blow out to $1.5 billion and add $2.3 billion to state debt by the end of the 2030s.
Speaking on the Channel Nine program on Tuesday night, McGuire said Canberra would have to lift its contribution.
“They’re spending a fortune in Queensland, which is fantastic with the Olympic Games, but Tassie deserves to have a go at this and this is a big play for them,” he said.
“It’s such a great investment in Tasmania. This is the best investment that the government could put into it.”
“They owe Tassie and I think we should be looking more to them to kick in a bit more.”
The federal government has committed $240 million to the Macquarie Point project and the AFL is adding $15 million.
Tasmania has capped its share at $375 million, with about $300 million more from state borrowings.
McGuire’s comments followed a meeting yesterday where club presidents, chief executives and the AFL Commission reaffirmed Tasmania’s 2028 entry.
Despite talk of a showdown, the meeting passed without drama.
McGuire said the AFL told clubs ‘the deal is the deal’ and called the gathering “collegiate”.
“Basically, to use the Neale Daniher phrase, the AFL has said, ‘Play on for Tasmania’,” he said.
The panel said Port Adelaide president David Koch asked AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and the commission whether costs were tracking as expected. The answer was yes.
Two builders are currently competing to win the construction job, with quotes expected within two to three months.
McGuire said the benefits of the stadium and team went well beyond football.
“People get this wrong, it’s not just the footy,” he said.
“It’s the economic impact. It’s not just the concerts, it’s the people who will go down there – it’s the builders, it’s the trades that people will learn, it’s the statisticians, it’s the sports medicine facilities.”
“You’re going to have all these different things that will enhance the whole community and lift the spirit of the whole place.”
Sports and Events Minister Nick Duigan said on Tuesday the government had options if more was needed.
“There’ll be a number of levers that are available in that eventuality,” he said.
He would not be drawn on a possible blowout, citing the live tender process.
“The stadium is currently costed at $1.13 billion. We’re in that procurement process where those numbers will absolutely firm up,” he said.
