Tasmanian members of parliament tour Adelaide Oval, Crows’ facility ahead of vote on Macquarie Point stadium

The battle in Tasmania for a new stadium to pair with the AFL’s 19th team has taken a fresh twist, with an unlikely ally emerging in the continuing pitch for the Devils’ Macquarie Point stadium.

South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas has emerged as a secret salesman for the Tasmanian independents who will ultimately decide whether the Devils’ Macquarie Point stadium is approved in parliament.

Four of the parliamentarians who will this year vote on the stadium proposal toured Adelaide Oval and the Crows’ new training site this weekend as they consider backing the contentious billion-dollar commitment.

Key upper house representatives Rebecca Thomas and Ruth Forrest were in that touring party, with the Rockliff state government needing only two independents to vote with Labor and Liberal in the Legislative Council in coming months for the stadium to go ahead.

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Lower house representative David O’Byrne also joined the party on a fact-finding mission but is part of the lower house which has bipartisan support for the stadium.

It’s understood Malinauskas was happy to do a favour to help out in the push for a Tasmanian AFL team given his strong belief in the transformative powers of Adelaide Oval and also has strong relationships with Crows chairman John Olsen and CEO Tim Silvers, as well as Tasmanian Labor MP O’Byrne - with the pair attending University of Adelaide together.

As part of a 45-minute meeting Malinauskas is understood to have sold a vision of the new stadium’s impact on a capital city and told them the Adelaide Oval project transformed the entire state.

Australia’s most captivating and persuasive politician has used Adelaide Oval as the centrepiece of the Gather Round project that brings in $100 million in economic impact each year.

Adelaide president John Olsen hosted the group at the Adelaide v Carlton clash.

He discussed the economics of advertising at the stadium, food and beverage issues, public transport, investment in the CBD, the costing of a new training base and the potential community benefits of the Tasmania Devils.

Olsen told the Herald Sun on Tuesday: “The feedback was that they were impressed. They went away with an enhanced position as to what a team could do for Tasmania. They didn’t say which way they would vote but they are doing serious consideration and I get the very clear impression they have gone on a journey and the visit over two days cemented some views for some of them. I think it is heading in the right direction.”

Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The AFL is increasingly optimistic that the stadium will be green-lit by July but first it must go through both Houses of Parliament.

The initial vote in June in the Tasmanian state parliament’s lower house will have bipartisan support from the Labor and Liberal parties.

But those two parties represent only six of the 15 votes in the upper house that could proceed a week after the lower house vote.

So the Rockliff state government will need to convince two of those remaining nine parliamentarians to approve the project.

Devils CEO Brendon Gale told this masthead: “We are removed from the political process but we have an interest in ensuring the parliament is fully informed so there was an inquiry made (about visiting Adelaide Oval) and we acted as an intermediary. John Olsen and (Crows CEO) Tim Silvers hosted them at a Crows game and took them into the West Lakes facility.

“They were able to get in and see (Malinauskas) and he gave them 45 minutes and he can speak with great authority on the profound impact of the stadium. At the end of the day they were able to leave better informed.”

The proposed Macquarie Point AFL Stadium continues to draw controversy. Picture: Macquarie Point Development Corporation

“Last year after Gather Round I asked for a transcript of his speech. It was incredible. He spoke about the cultural impact of sport and footy in this country but also the economic benefit and he spoke a lot about confidence. There was a confidence in the state and a lot of that had to do with the stadium and that is very relatable to Tasmania.”

Last month several of the independents sided with the major parties to vote down a motion from independent Meg Webb asking for the Tasmanian government to reopen negotiations with the AFL regarding the location and construction timeline of the new stadium.

In the weekend’s Federal election the Labor Party wiped out all Liberal Party seats but the decision will have little impact on the Tasmania Devils.

The Labor Federal government has already committed $240 million to the Macquarie Point stadium.