AFL lauds 'historic' moment as Tasmanian parliament approves Macquarie Point stadium
After decades of waiting and bitter political division, Tasmania has finally secured its AFL dream with parliament approving the controversial billion-dollar stadium.
The Macquarie Point stadium will go ahead after an order authorising its construction was passed by the Legislative Council late on Thursday night.
The upper house voted 9-5 in favour of the State Policies and Projects (Macquarie Point Precinct) Order 2025 about 11pm.
The vote clears the way for the $1.13bn stadium to be built on the near-waterfront site – one of the conditions imposed by the AFL for a Tasmanian team’s entry into the national competition.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has expressed his delight at the passage of the order to build the Macquarie Point stadium.
Speaking on Radio SEN, Mr Rockliff welcomed the 9-5 vote in the Legislative Council on Thursday night, which cleared the stadium construction to go ahead and for the state to get its own AFLP team.
“It’s been some journey, not just for me the last three years, but for decades, for many, many people, the legends of the game, who have fought for this moment as well, but also the grassroots people who just wanted our own team,” he said.
Mr Rockliff said the saga had “been a challenge”.
“There have been three no-confidence motions, one of them successful. Two elections have been fought on this issue effectively, or people have tried to put it at the forefront of the agenda and I guess every bump along the roads made me more resilient.
“It became not just about the team, not just about the stadium, but about Tasmania.
“Are we really going to acknowledge the fact that we do need to move forward, stop saying no to stuff and actually be very positive, on the front foot.
“The implications of the vote going down last night would have been enormous for this state in terms of signalling that when it’s right there in front of you, with all the support from the federal government and the AFL and others, we couldn’t quite get there.
“And we broke through that barrier.”
Mr Rockliff said work at Macquarie Point would begin almost immediately.
“We’re getting on with the job, and so tomorrow we’ll be going to tender for bulk excavation on the site, and also unpacking the Goods Shed as well.
“So there are two tenders being released tomorrow for those two projects, if you like, bulk excavation, the Goods Shed unpacking, and that’ll be the start.
“And then early next year, we’ll go to design and construct tender, and that’ll be where the rubber really hits the road.”
Meanwhile, Labor’s support was crucial to getting the stadium across the line.
Opposition leader Josh Willie said the outcome would deliver the team Tasmanians had been seeking for decades.
“Now the order has passed parliament, it’s up to Premier Rockliff to build the stadium, and “Labor will be holding him to account for his delivery. The Premier has taken Tasmanians on a long, challenging and unnecessarily divisive journey to get to this point, and I hope the divisions he’s opened up are able to heal.”
In a message to members, Tasmania Devils chair Grant O’Brien said the Legislative Council decision was a “defining moment for our club and for Tasmania”.
“We acknowledge how material this decision is for Tasmania, and we thank all of those that have shown vision and leadership in getting to this position,” Mr O’Brien said.
“We are committed to walking alongside you all and ensuring that Tasmania Football Club is a unifying force for our state.”
He said the club was “so grateful” for the support and encouragement we have received to get to today.
‘A historic day’
The Australian Football League has lauded the passing of the Macquarie Point Stadium — an essential element of securing the 19th licence for the Tasmania Devils club.
“Today is a historic day in the short history of the Tasmania Devils Football Club,” AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said in a statement sent shortly before midnight.
“Since the announcement of the club on May 3, 2023, the Devils have made great progress, ticking off milestones along the journey, and pleasingly today, through parliament, the Tasmanian people have spoken.”
“Along the journey so far, more than 210,000 members have signed up and pledged their support, the club launched its colours and name, and were granted entry into the VFL and VFLW competitions, and now a new roofed stadium at Macquarie Point has been endorsed and approved by the Tasmanian government and work can progress on getting it built and delivered for all Tasmanians.
“This is an incredibly important outcome for everyone who has worked tirelessly to see a Tasmanian footy club compete on the national stage, and for the hundreds of thousands of Tasmanians who have stood behind the Devils with such passion and pride.”
Mr Dillon said creating a new AFL/AFLW club from scratch was no small task, with “much still to be done by the club to be ready for 2028”.
“However, given the progress to date we could not be more confident that the Devils will make an immediate impact on the AFL/AFLW in 2028,” he said.
“On behalf of the AFL and the 18 clubs we will continue to do all we can to support the establishment of the Devils and our newest club in the proud footy state of Tasmania.”
‘Time for building is now here’
The lobby groups for businesses that will work on the stadium welcomed the decision.
“The Stadium Order has passed the Parliament, now let’s just get on and build it”, Civil Contractors Federation Tasmania CEO Andrew Winch said.
“After three long years, the time for talking is over, and the time for building is now here.
“Our members are just champing at the bit to get to work on this exciting project, and we call on the government to get on with building the stadium as soon as they possibly can.”
Master Builders Tasmania CEO Jenna Cairney said the vote was a win for confidence and investment.
“This is more than just a vote for a stadium, this is a vote for investment, a vote for jobs, and a vote for a future in Tasmania for our building and construction workers,”
“This has always been about more than just timber, bricks and mortar, this is an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen our industry and shape the next generation of builders.
“The stadium alone is estimated to create 600 building jobs, with a peak workforce of 450 on site, and one in five of those could be apprentices.”
The Legislative Council continued its consideration of the governor’s 157-page order to build the stadium well into the evening after a marathon Wednesday sitting that ended at 2.45am.
A handful of independents and Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor continued a rearguard action scrutinising the clauses of the order one at a time in a chamber largely deserted by government and Labor MLCs.
But it was clear from earlier debate the order would pass by a margin expected to be nine votes to five.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff was upbeat about developments on Thursday morning.
“What we’re doing is letting the Legislative Council have their say,” he said.
“There was a long debate yesterday in the early hours of the morning and can I commend all that spoke on that legislation ... those that spoke for and those that spoke against.
“I didn’t agree with everything that was said, but that’s democracy.
“I’m still a little nervous. I was nervous the other day. I am still feeling that way and I’ll be immensely relieved should the order pass, but I’ll wait for that particular time.”
Labor leader Josh Willie, whose party is backing the government on the stadium, said the debate had been long, but the state deserved a team.
“I think it’s been handled poorly by the premier, and that’s why you have legislative councillors trying to put conditions on the government and make the project better,” he said.
“I think what you found through this debate, whether it’s in the lower house or in the upper house, members are doing what they can to hold this government accountable.
“We referred the project to the Public Accounts Committee, just because we’ve got a government that has a poor track record in delivering major projects, doesn’t mean that Tasmania should stop building major projects and not realise opportunities.
“With this project comes the AFL teams that Tasmania has fought for generations, and it’s going to be a great day when they run out on the field.
The Legislative Council occupied itself with reviewing the detail of the order on Thursday.
It followed a lengthy sitting into Wednesday night which continued until at 2.45am.
After independent Dean Harriss concluded his contribution by comparing the Tasmania Devils to the moonwalk, Labor’s Luke Edmunds added his support.
“I’m here today and I’m lining up with progress and with the future. I’m lining up with those who support jobs and the economy,” he said.
“I’m lining up with our young people and I’m lining up with the Devils.”
Minister for Infrastructure Kerry Vincent stuck to the government script.
“This project will transform an industrial wasteland into an entertainment precinct for the
benefit of all Tasmanians to enjoy sport, entertainment, cultural events and conferences,” he said.
“Importantly, this project delivers what generations of Tasmanians, current and past, have
dreamed of – the Tasmanian AFL team, the Tasmania Devils.
Liberals Jo Palmer and Nick Duigan and Labor’s Sarah Lovell also spoke in favour of the stadium.
In her marathon three-and-a-half hour address, independent MLC for Nelson Meg Webb spoke at length of about the government’s “unacceptable” rejection of the Tasmanian Planning Commission report on the Macquarie Point Stadium – even likening Premier Jeremy Rockliff to US President Donald Trump.
“The project has been categorically shown to be detrimental to our state’s finances.
“If we damage our already dire state finances further, we damage our ability to provide basic services to the Tasmanian community, and we are hurting Tasmanian young people.
“We’re picking winners here, and the winner is AFL football, but everyone else is going to suffer as a result.”
My Place spokesman Roland Browne condemnedthe deals the government had done to get the stadium across the line.
“These deals are laughable. They rely on this government honouring its word, a most unlikely outcome,” he said.
“Most importantly, there’s no accountability and no consequence if the governments falls short on the commitments it has actually offered.
“Premier Rockliff’s Christmas present to Tasmania are AFL/AFLW teams at a cost of around $2.5bn, and the desecration of the Hobart Cenotaph and destruction of the heritage of Sullivans Cove. It is a recipe for ongoing division.”
Originally published as AFL lauds 'historic' moment as Tasmanian parliament approves Macquarie Point stadium
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