Tasmanian Labor leader Josh Willie says the state “can’t afford to not proceed” with the Macquarie Point stadium after the Tasmanian Planning Commission recommended against the project.
Willie confirmed Labor’s position after caucus discussions on Monday, joining the Liberal government in backing the stadium – a key element in securing Tasmania its own AFL and AFLW teams.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity that can’t be missed and it’s very clear to me that if we don’t proceed, we will lose the Tasmanian Football Club,” Willie told Triple M Breakfast this morning.
“There will be a loss of confidence in Tasmania that will be highly detrimental.”
“What sort of message would that send investors on the mainland and overseas who want to do business in Tasmania? I think we can’t afford to not proceed.”
The planning commission last week found the project should not go ahead, ruling the benefits are outweighed by the disbenefits.
Willie dismissed the concerns, saying “there’s nothing in that report that says it can’t be built”.
He said the economic and social benefits extend beyond simple financial calculations.
“It’s very easy to apply a dry economic argument over these things and find reasons not to do things and our Treasury Department does that all the time because they’re risk averse,” he said.
“You can’t underestimate the economic and social value of Tasmania having its own AFL teams. There’ll be people who don’t even step foot in the stadium that will be aspirational about where they live.”
Labor has also flagged concerns about potential cost blowouts under the Liberal government’s management but says it will hold the government to account.
The stadium proposal is expected to face a parliamentary vote on November 4, with passage through the upper house still uncertain.
Willie believes the project will ultimately gain approval.
“I think that when they make a balanced decision, I think it will pass the upper house. That’s my gut feel,” he said.
Meanwhile Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor has tabled a petition signed by 6,387 Tasmanians calling on the Legislative Council to renegotiate the deal for the state’s AFL and AFLW teams.
“It’s a clear call for Upper House members to reject the stadium,” O’Connor said.
“It follows successive opinion polls which have shown the majority of Tasmanians oppose the stadium.”
