Dump Hobart stadium fast-track, kingmaker crossbenchers demand of Labor and Liberals

A compromise on the contentious Hobart AFL stadium may be the price paid for one of the major parties to form government in Tasmania’s hung parliament.

Independent MP-elect for the state seat of Franklin, Peter George.

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Tasmania’s major political parties may have to drop plans to fast-track the $1bn Hobart AFL ­stadium, to secure the backing of kingmaker crossbenchers to ­govern.

Both major parties back fast-track laws to build the contentious stadium at Hobart’s Macquarie Point, circumventing the Planning Commission’s project of state significance process.

However, in the wake of Saturday’s election of a hung parliament, Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor leader Dean Winter have talked broadly about the need for “compromise” and “collaboration”.

Both have begun discussions with balance-of-power crossbenchers, seeking pledges on confidence and supply in the hope of forming minority government.

Opposition to the stadium was a key stance of independents Peter George, Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland, as well as the Greens, and likely Shooters, Fishers, Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco.

Mr Rockliff’s Liberals are expected to win 14-15 seats and are understood to be confident of securing the support of pro-stadium independent David O’Byrne, who provided the Premier confidence and supply in the last parliament.

That would still leave the Lib­erals needing Mr Di Falco and one of the three anti-stadium independents to achieve the 18 votes needed for a majority in the 35-seat House of Assembly.

Labor, which will likely finish on 10 seats, needs three of the likely four anti-stadium crossbenchers, as well as the Greens, to form government.

Mr George on Wednesday told The Australian discussions with the party leaders had been limited so far and he expected them to offer concessions to crossbenchers in the next seven to 10 days. He said this must include compromises on the three key issues that propelled his stellar election win: opposing the stadium, better regulating salmon farms and boosting integrity.

Hobart's proposed AFL stadium at Macquarie Point.

“It’s really up to them to make the moves, I think – I know what I was elected on,” Mr George said.

“When they start talking to the crossbench about their positions, then we can actually work out how this parliament is going to work.”

He believed the major parties could compromise on the stadium by returning to the POSS process, rather than fast-track.

“Allowing a proper process – that is what parliament is supposed to be all about,” he said.

“If we’re going to get good stability, a four-year parliament and collaboration across all the important issues, then due process like putting the stadium through the processes it should go through is obviously going to be key.

“Let’s face the reality: that’s what’s going to have to happen.”

Likely Shooters, Fishers, Farmers MP Carlo Di Falco wants the stadium to be assessed by the Planning Commission. Picture: Sam Rosewarne.

Mr Di Falco has also called for the stadium to be determined via the POSS process rather than fast-track.

Mr Rockliff initially backed the POSS process but then vowed to circumvent it via fast-track laws after a critical initial assessment by the Planning Commission.

Labor opposed the project, to be funded largely by taxpayers at a time of trebling state debt, at the March 2024 election but backed it at this election. Some within the ALP believe the party should have made support conditional on the project passing the POSS process.

Despite the government’s intention to dump the POSS process, the Planning Commission has continued to take evidence and hold public hearings, with the fast-track not legislated before the July 19 election was called.

Parliament is not likely to resume until September, roughly in line with the expected outcome of the POSS assessment.

The stadium is the AFL’s key condition for Tasmania securing the competition’s 19th team licence. However, some members of both major parties believe any failure of the project to be endorsed by the POSS process would give the government fair grounds to re­negotiate the Devils deal.

Mr Winter and Mr Rockliff have both ruled out changes to their stadium positions but would not comment on Wednesday.