In the balance: What Tasmanian election means for Tassie Devils’ AFL dream, Gale rejects ‘speculation’ over role
The state government’s funding for a Hobart stadium was a key factor in this weekend’s state election. As the dust settles, MATT FORREST unpacks what the results mean for the AFL’s 19th side.
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Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale has labelled as “speculation” reports he will be the new boss of the Tasmania Devils, but he made clear his passion for the league’s 19th team.
This masthead reported earlier this month Gale was the strong favourite to become the inaugural chief executive of the Devils, which now has over 150,000 founding members.
But there are complex negotiations ahead for Liberal Party leader Jeremy Rockliff as he seeks to form a minority government after Saturday’s Tasmanian state election.
Labor has ruled out attempting to broker a deal with independents after neither party won enough seats for majority government.
But any negotiations would have to involve independents from Jacquie Lambie’s new political party, with Lambie saying last week the new AFL stadium was “a slap in the face to Tasmanians” given more pressing issues with education, housing and health.
Gale on Sunday did not rule out a move and said he had met with Tasmanian powerbrokers to give advice on the club, but made clear anything else was premature.
“It’s speculation. I am the CEO of Richmond footy club and as engaged and motivated as I have ever been. But I have been in the job for 15 years and so there will be a time when the club might need new leadership and direction. I am closer to the end of my tenure than the beginning but right now I am committed to serving Richmond to the best of my ability.
“Clearly I am Tasmanian and I have been overly supportive of the team and there is a team subject to a conditional licence. It is subject to a number of really complex issues, which is a stadium, which is subject to an election last night. So there is a lot of uncertainty at the moment.”
Gale confirmed Richmond’s Punt Road development, in the pipeline for three years, had been paused as the club considered costing.
“The cost has escalated and we have had to pause it for a little while,” he told 3AW.
“Prudently we can’t take on too much debt. We don’t want to put a ball and chain around the club so we are just pausing. It will happen. It will be incredible. It’s just a matter of when and it has to be the right time.”
WHAT TASMANIAN ELECTION MEANS FOR DEVILS
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has given his victory speech, but a likely hung parliament may complicate matters for the AFL’s 19th club just a week after a historic milestone in Australian rules football history.
A win for the Liberal Party would be a win for Tasmanian football and its proposed stadium, with Mr Rockliff the one responsible for the initial negotiations for the funding of the stadium.
However, he looks set to be forced to negotiate with Independants and minor parties to form government.
Tasmanian taxpayers will spend $375 million of the $715 million price tag for the Macquarie Point stadium; a number that was too high in the eyes of Opposition Leader Rebecca White and the Labor Party and formed a crucial battleground in the election, with housing, health and education major concerns for Tasmanians in the election.
If elected, the Labor Party was planning to renegotiate the initial deal with the AFL, however CEO Andrew Dillon was firm on not rewriting the stadium negotiations.
Dillon also confirmed that, without a roofed stadium in Macquarie Point that could host 28,000 fans, there would be no licence granted for a 19th AFL team in Tasmania.
However, Ms White conceded it’s “very unlikely” her party gains power, meaning Mr Rockliff is set to negotiate with minor parties to hold government after neither major party was able to secure enough seats to govern outright.
Mr Rockliff’s Liberal Party will likely to hold 14 seats and Labor 10, with the remaining 11 seats either split between the Greens (four) and independent members or still in doubt.
The final result of the election will likely take weeks to determine the winner of the election, however negotiations are already under way between Mr Rockliff and the independents likely to be voted in, with Kristie Johnston and David O’Byrne in strong positions for Clark and Franklin respectively, as well as the Jacqui Lambie Network, who could secure two seats.
Mr Rockliff confirmed the Liberal Party won’t be making a deal with the Greens or trade ministries to lock in support.
Rosilie Woodruff, the Greens leader, has strongly opposed the Macquarie Point Stadium build, however says she supports the fledging AFL side.
“I am a proud foundation member of the Tasmanian Devils like I’m sure so many other people in this room are,” she said.
“I’m committed to defending our team and our colours and the Greens will hold firm in standing up to the whimsy of the AFL.
“We know having a love of football doesn’t have to equal support for a stadium.
“They (Tasmanians) don’t need a billion-dollar stadium, when we have a perfectly good one at York Park.
“That is where the heart of AFL and AFL football should remain permanently.”
Senator Jacqui Lambie, whose Jacqui Lambie Network could have one or two candidates elected, said the taxpayer contribution would be a “slap in the face to Tasmanians”.
“We are against the stadium that they want to build right now,” she said on Sky News Australia.
“That is not a priority until we get these other things fixed.”
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