Bec Thomas: Final Macquarie Point stadium decision must be made with ‘heads and our hearts’
Upper house independent Bec Thomas has given an insight into her decision-making process regarding the proposed Macquarie Point stadium ahead of a major parliamentary vote.
Tasmania
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The final decision on the proposed Macquarie Point stadium must be made “with both our heads and our hearts”, an independent member of the state’s upper house has said ahead of a looming parliamentary vote.
Elwick MLC Bec Thomas, who is the former mayor of Glenorchy, wields significant influence in the stadium debate, with the state government requiring at least two independents to back the project in the Legislative Council.
Together with independent Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest and independent Franklin MHA David O’Byrne, Ms Thomas recently travelled to Adelaide on a self-funded fact-finding mission in anticipation of the stadium coming to a vote in both houses of parliament.
The trio was addressed by South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, who promoted to them the virtues of the redeveloped Adelaide Oval and how it had positively impacted the city.
They also met with Adelaide Football Club CEO Tim Silvers and chair John Olsen.
In a social media post on Thursday, Ms Thomas said she learned that the revamped stadium had “transformed the city and attracted significant tourism and events”.
“I’m doing everything I can to fully inform myself on the stadium decision. It’s a big decision with significant impacts for future generations, whichever way it goes,” she said.
“While we wait for the draft enabling legislation to be published for consultation I’m reading reports, talking to key stakeholders and listening to the people I represent to hear their views.”
Ms Thomas said her other “takeaways” from the trip were that a successful stadium development needed to be modern, located in a capital city, and must host a diverse range of events across the year in order to be financially viable.
“This is a decision to make with both our heads and our hearts, based on fact and feeling,” she said.
The state government will bypass normal planning processes for the stadium project, drafting bespoke legislation to fast-track the development.
The bill has not yet been released for public consultation but is expected to be voted on in June.
The results of the Legislative Council elections in the seats of Nelson, Pembroke, and Montgomery on May 24 are shaping up to be crucial in determining the fate of the project, with anti-stadium candidates running in all three electorates.
Independent Braddon MHA Craig Garland and Greens upper house candidate Darren Briggs will be leading a protest outside Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s electoral office in Devonport on Saturday, urging the government to abandon its Macquarie Point plans in favour of using University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston for the state’s new AFL and AFLW teams.
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Originally published as Bec Thomas: Final Macquarie Point stadium decision must be made with ‘heads and our hearts’
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