Macquarie Point stadium future hinges on Tasmania’s post-election deals

Tasmania was sent to the polls early in part over debate about the proposed Macquarie Point stadium. A hung parliament looms, but what will it mean for the AFL’s newest club?

The Tasmania Devils and AFL believe Saturday’s state election provides a strong mandate to forge ahead with a Macquarie Point stadium despite the rocky road on the horizon.

The snap election caused by Labor leader Dean Winter saw a slump in his party’s primary vote as he confirmed on Sunday he would not attempt to form a government.

Jeremy Rockliff’s Liberal Party will now attempt to form government with a range of independents but won a 3.3 per cent swing towards it compared to 2.9 per cent against the Labor Party.

Re-elected Premier Jeremy Rockliff addresses the media after the election. Picture: Patrick Gee.

Rockliff has been a staunch advocate of the Tasmanian team and the need for a new 23,000-seat roofed stadium.

While he will still need to win the support of independents across both Houses of Parliament, league and Tasmania Devils sources believe the results are a positive sign for the AFL.

As they sifted through the votes in a process that could take weeks of negotiation to form a government, the Devils saw positive signs showing broad support for the Devils’ new stadium build.

AFL legend and proud Tasmanian Nick Riewoldt told Seven on Sunday: “If we are talking about the election being a referendum on the stadium then 70 per cent of Tasmanians voted for parties aligned to a pro stadium sentiment,” he said.

“This notion Tasmanians don’t want the stadium was blown out of the water yesterday. 70 per cent of Tasmanians voted for pro-stadium parties. the Liberals with the majority of those seats have the opportunity to form government and hopefully get that stadium green-lit.”

Macquarie Point Stadium concept design. Picture: MPDC

Proposed alternative designs for Hobart's Macquarie Point stadium

Pro-stadium independent David O’Byrne will be returned in his seat of Franklin with a swing of 2.3 per cent, while several anti-stadium independents look likely to lose their seats.

Rockliff won his seat with an increased swing and can now claim a mandate to forge ahead with legislation for the stadium.

He will need to secure the support of three or four independents with the actual configuration of parliament unlikely to change – the Liberals with 14 seats, Labor with nine, the Greens with five and four independents.

The Greens have been fiercely anti-stadium so Rockliff will have to do a deal without them.

Had Rockliff’s support dropped anti-stadium advocates could have pointed to that vote as a sign of strong opposition to the new Macquarie Point infrastructure.

Winter said on Sunday that Rockliff would have the first attempt at trying to form a government, ruling out a deal with the Greens.

“I will not trade away long-term Labor policy and support for industry and I will not be entering into any deals with the Greens,” he said.

Jeremy Rockliff’s support for Hobart's Macquarie Point stadium means he will need to cut out the Greens.

Now the AFL and Devils will watch on while Rockliff attempts to broker a deal that allows him to win government and reintroduce legislation for the stadium.

The delay will push back timelines that AFL has insisted upon including a stadium contract but the league has maintained its unwavering support for the Devils.

The Devils released a statement on Sunday making clear the team is keen to forge ahead with its 2028 entry to the AFL.

“Tasmania Football Club stands ready to work with the incoming Tasmanian government and elected members once the election outcomes are resolved,” the statement said.

“We are focused on entering the AFL and the AFLW by 2028, [and] in order to do that, we have several time frames that must be met. We are very eager to work with the government to realise these.

“In the meantime, we will stay focused on building our club, we have no time to lose.

“We are very thankful for the ongoing support and encouragement of our club, we cannot wait to bring these teams to reality – together.”

Originally published as Macquarie Point stadium future hinges on Tasmania’s post-election deals