Premier coy on special laws to build stadium as major parties back Mac Point build
Jeremy Rockliff pledges to “never give in to the naysayers” as both major parties back the construction of the proposed AFL stadium at Macquarie Point after a scathing report.
Tasmania
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Both major parties have pledged to support the construction of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium despite another independent report raising serious issues with the project’s financial viability.
The Tasmanian Planning Commission’s expert panel released its Draft Integrated Assessment Report on the stadium project Monday afternoon, finding the project would add $1.8bn to the state’s state rising debt burden and risk the state’s credit rating.
The report found the stadium would generate $744m worth of benefits over 25 years and create 238 full time jobs.
The issue dominated question time during the April Fools' Day sitting of state parliament.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff told state parliament on Tuesday the government would press on regardless.
“You say that the state cannot afford to build the stadium. I say that Tasmania cannot afford not to build the stadium because we would lose so much opportunity,” he said.
“I am not going to let this state be seen as a place that you cannot invest. I will never give in to the negative and the naysayers that align with everything that you say, because that is in your political interests.
“It is in the state’s interest that this stadium infrastructure goes ahead.”
He did not rule out pulling out of the Project of State Significance process and drafting special legislation to pass the project.
“All I can guarantee when it comes to the stadium is that this parliament will have its say,” he said.
Opposition leader Dean Winter said Labor would also continue to back the stadium.
“Labor supports a stadium because it will generate desperately needed jobs and secure the AFL and AFLW teams our state deserves. We want to see it built,” he said.
“We support the project through the current process. The hypotheticals are questions for Jeremy Rockliff.
“The draft assessment raises serious concerns the Premier is mismanaging this project, just like he did with the Spirits.
“I have given the Premier a pathway to have the stadium approved through his own Project of State Significance process. But I cannot build it for him.”
The Greens and crossbenchers indicated their strong disapproval to the House.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said her party does not support the stadium and never had.
“The new Planning Commission’s report, which is utterly damning, backs in exactly why,” Ms Woodruff said.
“It details massive and insurmountable problems with the stadium, and as the Greens and many others have long warned.
“You might have staked your reputation on this project, but surely you can now see that the stadium is a terrible deal for Tasmanians. Will you finally admit that you have made a mistake?”
Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner said it was another sign to walk away from the project before it send the state broke.
“You’re already in a hole, why keep digging? Tell the AFL where to stick their stadium,” he said.
“We already have one of the best stadiums in the country in Launceston. Can you finally admit that this stadium will be Tasmania’s white elephant project?”
Independent MP Kristie Johnston noted the report had found the housing element of the project was lacking and independent Miriam Beswick lamented the inadequate provision for disabled access to the stadium.
Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim said it was time for the federal government to pull the pin on its funding.
“The stadium does not stack up at any level. Its costs have been understated and its benefits have been massively exaggerated,” he said.
“Page after page of the report reveals insurmountable obstacles. The stadium is a dog and any rational government would walk away from it.”
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Originally published as Premier coy on special laws to build stadium as major parties back Mac Point build
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