Tasmanian MPs demand meeting with AFL over Tasmania Devils deal

State and federal MPs have written to the AFL seeking a meeting to discuss renegotiating the agreement between the league and the Tasmanian government. What the letter says >>

New renders of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium, home of the Tasmania Devils.

A group of 21 local, state and federal politicians have written to the AFL CEO seeking a meeting to discuss renegotiating the agreement between the league and the Tasmanian government.

The letter to AFL boss Andrew Dillon is signed by six Greens state MPs, six independent state MPs, Green and independent senators, JLN MP Andrew Jenner, Senator Jacqui Lambie, as well as federal member for Clark MP Andrew Wilkie and the mayors of Hobart and Glenorchy.

They say they’re keen to have a chat about the proposed stadium at Macquarie Point.

“The AFL has insisted on Tasmania building a stadium at Macquarie Point as a precondition for our team,” they write.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“That stadium proposal remains overwhelmingly opposed by the Tasmanian community, and this opposition is only growing.

“This has precipitated Premier Jeremy Rockliff losing the confidence of Tasmania’s House of Assembly,” the letter says.

“Tasmanians want and deserve a team but cannot afford this additional stadium.”

They ask to meet with the AFL to discuss the deal.

“We wish to meet with you to discuss the stadium condition in the licence agreement as a matter of the utmost importance to our state.

“A number of the undersigned have outstanding meeting requests with you and so this reiterates the importance of this opportunity.

“A delegation of the undersigned stand ready to travel to Melbourne at a mutually convenient time to discuss this issue.”

Parliament will meet on Tuesday to pass the state budget. Premier Jeremy Rockliff is expected to call a fresh election the same day.

It means Liberal government legislation to approve the stadium cannot be considered by the parliament until the election is held, the votes counted, new MPs sworn in and a government is formed and parliament can sit again.

That is expected to be late August or early September. Public consultation on the Bill is continuing.

Mr Rockliff’s original attempt to bypass planning laws to have the stadium approved is still afoot — although the government is not taking part.

Macquarie Point Multipurpose stadium north west gate. Picture: Mac Point Development Corporation

The Tasmanian Planning Commision will hold an initial directions hearing on Tuesday as part of its consideration of the proposal under the Projects of State Significance process.

It has received 862 representations, overwhelmingly against the stadium’s construction.

The Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet Kathrine Morgan-Wicks wrote to the Commission in late May saying the government had pulled out.

“The government has determined that the Crown will cease to actively engage with the integrated assessment process and will instead prioritise its resources to support the Parliament’s consideration of the enabling legislation,” she wrote.

TPC John Ramsay said the process of assessing the development would continue anyway, as required by law.

“I note your advice that the Crown will cease to actively engage with the integrated assessment process and will prioritise its resources to support Parliament’s consideration of the proposed legislation,” he wrote.

“The extent to which a project proponent participates in an integrated assessment process is a matter for a proponent.

“However the Commission is obliged to continue with its assessment until it provides its report to the Premier as required by s26(1) of the State Policies and Projects Act 1993, or parliament revokes the Commission’s authority to undertake the assessment.

“To that end, the Commission will continue with its assessment in light of all the information that is provided to it by the proponent, either voluntarily or at the request of the Commission.”

The Commission submits a report to Minister with a recommendation on whether or not the project should proceed by September 17.

Originally published as Tasmanian MPs demand meeting with AFL over Tasmania Devils deal