Stadium issue spreads to the north: What Montgomery candidates had to say

The stadium could impact the legislative council vote in the North West, with three key candidates explaining their position on the contentious issue. What they had to say:

Montgomery legislative council candidates for 2025

Greens candidate for Montgomery Darren Briggs is capitalising on anti-stadium sentiment as he campaigns for the seat of retiring Liberal, Leonie Hiscutt.

Mrs Hiscutt’s son Casey, a sitting Central Coast Councillor, is running as an independent candidate for the same seat and he supports the stadium.

Ex-senate president Stephen Parry is running as a Liberal, the party proposing the stadium, in the electorate after moving back to the region.

The three legislative council seats going to the polls on Saturday could make or break the Liberal Party’s push for a stadium at Macquarie Point.

Mr Parry said once he is able to explain the stadium and the complex proposal in detail to constituents, they start to see the long-term benefits.

Former senate president Stephen Parry is the Liberal candidate for Montgomery. Picture: Elise Kaine

“It’s very easy for them to say yes team no stadium without knowing any details,” Mr Parry said.

He said if elected, he would be fighting for Montgomery’s “fair share” of sports related funding to increase youth participation.

He said the stadium was a bold long-term vision as opposed to an election cycle issue.

“I can only see a positive if we look at the long term prospect, not short term,”

Mr Parry said it was his understanding that the AFL was adamant about the stadium at Macquarie Point, and the state would have to proceed on that basis if it wanted a team.

He said business borrowing of government business enterprise borrowing money was “healthy” in order to develop something to receive a return.

“In all the businesses I’ve been involved in, if we had never borrowed we’d never have succeeded,” he said.

Mr Hiscutt said he supports the stadium and team for the potential opportunities it will bring to keep young people in the state.

Independent candidate for Montgomery Casey Hiscutt at Dial Park, Penguin. Picture: Elise Kaine

“Most of my friends have left Tasmania and found jobs in Western Australia for the money or Victoria for the exciting lifestyle.

“We just don’t have the opportunities for young people to stay here.”

Mr Hiscutt believes the “yes team, no stadium” argument being put forth by the Greens and the York Park Alliance was “disingenuous”.

“It’s a straw man argument, if we don’t have the stadium we don’t have the team — that has been made abundantly clear by both the AFL and the state.

“You can play football at York Park but a club can’t make money at York Park.”

Dr Briggs said support for the Greens had skyrocketed in the region, especially since the government announced loans would be taken out to help pay for the stadium.

He said it was “reckless” for the government to talk about spending over a billion dollars on a stadium when the budget was already “critically under pressure”.

He said the Greens would push to renegotiate the deal with the AFL who are holding Tasmanians “to ransom”.

Greens candidate for Montgomery Darren Briggs with the Dial Range in background. Picture: Elise Kaine

“People in the community don’t want it,” Dr Briggs said.

“They want their team, they deserve their team, but not at any cost — which is what the government is proposing.”

He said it had been “heartbreaking” to hear the stories of the people in Montgomery who were “desperate for just a place to shelter their kids”.

Dr Briggs said the government should be investing in housing, preventive healthcare, education and protecting biodiversity rather than the stadium.

Independent candidate for Montgomery Gatty Burnett said she was hearing a resounding “no” to the stadium from constituents.

She said Tasmanians were asking for investment in “what matters” including affordable homes, well-staffed hospitals, youth support services, a courthouse for Circular Head, and tackling systematic failures in the youth justice system.

Shooters, Fishers, Farmers party candidate Adrian Pickin supports a plebiscite on the issue and says “the people should have their say”.

Originally published as Stadium issue spreads to the north: What Montgomery candidates had to say