Jacqui Lambie wants to see government invest in UTAS Stadium instead of Macquarie Point

Plans for an AFL stadium at Mac Point should be abandoned and more money invested into upgrading UTAS Stadium in Launceston, Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie says. POLL >>

Jacqui Lambie has hit back at the AFL over a proposed Tasmanian stadium, telling them to “stick it”. Picture: Supplied

Abandon plans for Macquarie Point and instead invest more money into UTAS Stadium in Launceston.

That is the course of action that Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie believes the state government needs to take.

However, Premier Jeremy Rockliff says “the stadium stacks up.”

“The Stadium and the entire Mac Point urban renewal project will be a game changer for our state, creating jobs, boosting our economy, and offering a world-class precinct for generations to come,” Mr Rockliff said.

“It will also deliver what is rightfully ours – our very own AFL and AFLW team.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Final day of state parliament for 2024. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We are full steam ahead on delivering this transformational Precinct and are pleased with the positive interest received to date from the private sector.”

Mr Rockliff and Senator Lambie’s comments follow an independent report by economist Nicholas Gruen on the proposed AFL stadium.

In his report, Dr Gruen said the project was “already displaying the hallmarks of mismanagement” and that the stadium would likely cost more than $1b.

Since the report’s release, the state government has said it will continue with its original stadium plans.

But Senator Lambie was concerned that the government had already dismissed the report.

“We pay these people, we get the job done – yet they don’t want to fix the issues even though they’ve been told this is your warning, this is what’s going to happen, and this is what I suggest you do,” she said.

“The government’s arrogance towards the people of Tasmania is f– king disgusting. There is no other way to put it.”

Senator Lambie believed that UTAS Stadium should be the permanent home ground for the new Tasmanian AFL team.

“It’s one of the top four AFL sites in the country for playing on. We are not using that and building upon that like we have been in the past.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos – November 28, 2024: Senator Jacqui Lambie in the Senate at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“It’s got plenty of room behind it, and it’s got that new UTAS facility there.”

She also wanted to see the Tasmanian government return to the negotiation table with the AFL.

“Go and tell your AFL mates to back it off,” Senator Lambie said.

“No other state in this country has ever had demands on them like the AFL has put on Tasmania.”

There was also concern that the government had no plan B in case Macquarie Point did not work out.

“Because the government is so stupid and arrogant, they’ve got no plan B,” Senator Lambie said.

“The plan B would be to go back to the AFL and say ‘we’re having our state team because everyone else has got one’ – so that’s that, leave that on the table.

“But we should go back and renegotiate where their home ground is going to be, and quite frankly, it should be UTAS Stadium.

“We could save hundreds of millions of dollars by doing that.”

Regarding Macquarie Point, Senator Lambie said the government would struggle to find private investors for the project.

“You won’t get investors investing in what they’re going to plan to do – they’re dreaming, they’re bloody delusional.”

Originally published as Jacqui Lambie wants to see government invest in UTAS Stadium instead of Macquarie Point