Jacqui Lambie clashes with Dean Young over stadium issues as JLN election candidates speak out

Liberals clash with Jacqui Lambie Network over whether a candidate will follow the party’s stance on building a new AFL stadium in Hobart. JLN Lyons candidate Troy Pfitzner responds.

Dean Young showing a social media post by Lambie Network candidate for Lyons Troy Pfitzner. Liberal member for Franklin Dean Young at Battery Point in relation to Lambie Network stance on the proposed new stadium in Hobart for the future AFL team. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The candidates running for the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) say they have autonomy over the party’s namesake.

The comments come after the Liberals criticised Senator Lambie and her party over her discontent with the proposed AFL stadium at Macquarie Point.

“My problem with the stadium is the complete lack of transparency and consultation with

Tasmanians,” she said.

“We found out that there was no business case for the demanded roofed stadium and no

projections on what those costs would mean to the Tasmanian economy.”

Liberal member for Franklin Dean Young at Battery Point in relation to Lambie Network stance on the proposed new stadium in Hobart for the future AFL team. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Social media post by Lambie Network candidate for Lyons Troy Pfitzner. Liberal member for Franklin Dean Young at Battery Point in relation to Lambie Network stance on the proposed new stadium in Hobart for the future AFL team. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Liberal MHA Dean Young said that Senator Lambie’s position on the stadium was confusing.

“She’s at odds with her candidates. One of her candidates was displaying a ‘yes to the stadium sticker’ on his car,” Mr Young said.

“Another told the Huon Valley News Lambie ‘doesn’t oppose the new stadium’. A third candidate was gagged when he raised the issue.”

Senator Lambie had previously said that the party would not have detailed policies going into the state election.

“Who knows what you’d get if you vote for a Lambie candidate?” Mr Young said.

“You certainly don’t know if you’d get a stadium or not, which puts the team at risk if you vote for a Lambie candidate.

“That’s the problem with Lambie and her candidates – you simply don’t know what they stand for.

“They would absolutely be a coalition of chaos.”

Senator Jacqui Lambie with JLN Lyons candidate Troy Pfitzner. Picture: Supplied.

JLN Lyons candidate Troy Pfitzner is the man Mr Young said had a car sticker in favour of the stadium.

“My car doesn’t have a sticker on it; my wife’s car did early in the piece,” Mr Pfitzner said.

“Jacqui and I do have varying opinions on the topic. I am not on the far right and saying we must have a stadium and must have a team.

“We need to have an AFL team; my issue is the same as Jacqui’s with the Liberal Party, and that’s their lack of transparency, the lack of costing and their lack of planning – none of that’s been put on the table.

“Until any of us see that, no one can stand there and say they’re going to support it 100 per cent.”

Mr Pfitzner said he and the other JLN candidates had autonomy.

“Whatever I say or do is 100 per cent mine. Jacqui is there as a mentor to us and a guide.

“Jacqui and I see eye-to-eye on a lot of topics, but there are certain topics where discussions have taken place.

“If everyone agreed 100 per cent all the time, we wouldn’t be in the world we live in.”

JLN Bass candidate Rebekah Pentland said she was confident the party would win seats at the state election.

“I think Jacqui’s really well-liked in Tasmania,” Ms Pentland said.

“I think people resonate with her and know that she’s done so much for Tasmania, and I think they’re open to having a balance of power at a state level.”