‘Tasmanians don’t deserve to be blackmailed by the AFL’: Anti-stadium politicians hit out at major parties over stadium support

The Tasmanian government has been accused of ignoring public concerns on the proposed Macquarie Point stadium at a Hobart rally.

No Stadium Rally in Hobart at parliament lawns. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Anti-stadium politicians joined together to hit out at the major parties for their support for the proposed Macquarie point stadium, accusing them of ignoring the public’s concerns.

Speaking to crowds gathered for a “no stadium” rally on Hobart’s parliament lawns on Saturday, Tasmanian Independents and Greens called on the Premier to renegotiate the controversial stadium deal.

Senator Jacqui Lambie, Kirstie Johnston independent member for Clark, Craig Garland independent member for Braddon, Meg Webb independent member for Nelson at the No Stadium Rally in Hobart at parliament lawns. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Tasmanians from across the island and all political persuasions rallied against Jeremy Rockliff and Dean Winter’s stadium folly on parliament lawns today,” Greens member for Hobart Cassy O’Connor said.

“The strong message from today’s rally is that, overwhelmingly, Tasmanians want to keep the team we’ve earned and deserve but they reject a multi-billion dollar stadium and its drain on the public purse for generations.”

Sports Minister Nick Duigan acknowledged the protest saying stadium builds were “contentious wherever they are”.

“Stadium infrastructure is always a tough build, whether it’s the Adelaide Oval, the Perth Oval or the upcoming Brisbane Olympics, we’re seeing there has been historically plenty of division in the community around building these assets,” he said.

“What we know as a government is that our conditional license to join the AFL has a stadium attached to that.

“I would be so disappointed if we couldn’t grasp this opportunity.”

No Stadium Rally in Hobart at parliament lawns. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Independent MP for Nelson Meg Webb accused the Premier of “holding the promised team to ransom”.

“How dare he hold its fate over the heads of the community and the Legislative Council, to emotionally blackmail people into legitimising his egregious error when signing up to his secret AFL deal,” she said.

Senator Jacqui Lambie said the government’s decision to abandon the independent planning process was “disgraceful”, and called on the Premier to “have the guts” to drop the deal.

“My voters don’t want this stadium and we’re not moving,” she said.

“If the AFL was a truly national sport we would’ve had our own team years ago … Tasmanians don’t deserve to be blackmailed by the AFL.”

Senator Jacqui Lambie. No Stadium Rally in Hobart at parliament lawns. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Labor member for Rumney Sarah Lovell said while Labor supports the stadium as a “critical” part of the AFL deal and its capacity to generate jobs, they are calling on the Premier to “be upfront with Tasmanians”.

“This project should have been something that Tasmanians could have been united behind,” she said.

“Because of the way the Premier has misled people, he has not been upfront about it... it’s put us in this situation where we have this really divisive approach being taken by people who either support or oppose the stadium.”

Originally published as ‘Tasmanians don’t deserve to be blackmailed by the AFL’: Anti-stadium politicians hit out at major parties over stadium support