Federal Libs join Greens, Lambie, Wilkie in opposing taxpayer funds for AFL stadium

Tasmania’s Liberals have split on public funding for a Hobart AFL stadium, with federal Liberals defying state colleagues to join Greens, crossbench and independent MPs.

AFL chief Gill McLachlan with Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff at a media conference ahead of a decision over Tasmania's own AFL team. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Tasmania’s Liberals have further split on public funding for a Hobart AFL stadium, with federal Liberals defying state colleagues to join Greens, crossbench and independent MPs in opposing the move.

In a rare cross-party play, the state’s federal Liberal House of Representative MPs and senators have co-signed a letter with Greens and Jacqui Lambie Network senators and independent Andrew Wilkie opposing taxpayer funding for the stadium.

Addressed to AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, the open letter is titled: “Hey Gillon, here’s an idea: give Tasmanians the team without making us build a stadium.”

“Tasmania is one of the founding football states and has a long history of making rich contributions to the national game,” reads the letter, released on the eve of Mr McLachlan’s latest visit to Tasmania. “That is why we deserve a team of our own without having to make taxpayers pay for a stadium – something no other state has had to do to get a team.

“We are putting politics aside to make this plea: give Tasmania a licence, let us have our dream. Do the right thing by Tasmania, Gill.”

The stance by sitting federal Tasmanian Liberals is starkly at odds with Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who has committed $375m in state funds for the proposed roofed stadium and is seeking $240m from the federal government.

Tasmanians are divided on the stadium, proposed for under-utilised land near Hobart’s waterfront. While there is strong support for a Tasmanian AFL team, and some support for a stadium, there is anger at the AFL making the new arena a last-minute condition for entry to the competition.

The AFL has pledged just $15m for the $741m stadium, with Mr Rockliff saying a further $85m would come through “borrowing

s against land sale or lease”, while $26m has already been committed for site works.

Mr Rockliff suggested that his federal colleagues were ignoring reality. “We all want the team we deserve – the fact, is to make the team viable we need a new stadium,” Mr Rockliff said.

“The ball is now in the Prime Minister’s court. Either he gives us our fair share of the funding we need to make this a reality, or Tasmania misses the opportunity for the stadium we need and the team we deserve.”

Increasingly vocal opposition to taxpayer funding from federal Liberal MPs is a gift for the state Labor opposition, which also firmly opposes government expenditure on the project.

“The extraordinary alliance of Tasmanian federal politicians coming together today against the waterfront stadium is a huge vote of no-confidence in Jeremy Rockliff’s priorities for Tasmania,” said state Labor sports spokesman Josh Willie.

“With (Liberals) Bridget Archer, Jonno Duniam, Wendy Askew, Gavin Pearce and Claire Chandler all teaming up together to make the call, it also shows a deep division between state and federal Liberals.”

However, the absence of federal Labor MP signatures on the letter suggests the ALP also has divisions on the issue.