It’s war: RSL opens fire on Hobart’s proposed AFL stadium

The national RSL has entered the debate over Hobart’s AFL stadium, claiming the 51m-high structure will ‘dwarf’ the nation’s oldest state war memorial and ‘destroy’ its sightlines.

Artist’s impression of Hobart’s proposed AFL stadium with the Cenotaph to the right.

The national RSL has entered the debate over Hobart’s AFL stadium, claiming the 51m-high structure will “dwarf” the nation’s oldest state war memorial and “destroy” its sightlines.

In a potential headache for the state Liberal and federal Labor governments, both bankrolling the stadium, RSL Australia on Thursday endorsed proposed Greens legislation to protect the “sacred values” of Hobart’s Cenotaph.

The Cenotaph is a significant landmark in Hobart but RSL Australia national president Duncan Anderson said it would be “dwarfed” by the proposed stadium at the adjacent Macquarie Point site.

“As custodians of this sacred site, RSL Australia and its state branch cannot stand by and allow the Cenotaph to be impacted in this way,” Mr Anderson said.

“(We) encourage government to consult with RSL Tasmania and stand ready to work with parliament to develop appropriate legislation to protect Tasmania’s sacred monument to our war veterans and service personnel.”

Tasmania’s minority Liberal government has been unable to satisfactorily address the RSL’s concerns about the stadium’s impact on the Cenotaph and its sightlines across the city and Derwent River.

The Greens have proposed legislation to protect the values of the heritage-listed monument, the site of commemoration ser­vices since 1919.

If passed, it could pose a major obstacle to the stadium at its current site. Opposing RSL-backed legislation to protect the Cenotaph would be a bad look politically for the Liberal government.

The government does not control parliament, and would most likely need the support of the Labor opposition to block the Greens’ legislation.

Labor recently did an about-face to provide in-principle support for the stadium, but has concerns about its “deliverability” at the current site and is open to an alternative proposal for a less contentious site near Regatta Point.

The state RSL has expressed support for this alternative project – known colloquially as ­“Stadium 2.0” – as have leading figures in business and local ­government.

However, the government has rejected Stadium 2.0 and is pursuing the Macquarie Point “Stadium 1.0” proposal, which is a condition of its securing a licence for the Devils AFL team.

Greens MP Vica Bayley told The Australian the party was still consulting on its Cenotaph protection legislation but hoped to introduce it in the next sitting period, which starts next week.

The national RSL’s entry into the debate comes as opponents of “Stadium 1.0” increasingly shift attention to the Albanese government’s promise of $240m for the project.

Mr Anderson said the Cenotaph site first hosted an Anzac Day service in 1916, one year after the Gallipoli landings, and was purposely chosen to command sightlines across the city and Derwent.

“These would be destroyed and the Cenotaph dwarfed by Stadium 1.0,” he said.

The national RSL has made is views known to the Albanese government. Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the government “honours the service and sacrifice of Australian Defence Force personnel, and acknowledges the significance of commemorative monuments”.

“(We) expect the Tasmanian government to engage with community groups and all affected stakeholder groups on this project,” she said.

Tasmanian Veteran Affairs Minister Guy Barnett has acknowledged the RSL’s concerns, saying they were “taken very seriously” and would be discussed with Premier Jeremy Rockliff and other cabinet colleagues.