Tasmanian Treasurer Peter Gutwein says government focused on uniting state in AFL bid

UPDATED: Treasurer Peter Gutwein says his government is focused on “bringing the state together” to build an AFL team that serves every region of Tasmania.

UPDATED: Treasurer Peter Gutwein says his government is focused on “bringing the state together” to build an AFL team that serves every region of Tasmania.

Dismissing reports he suggested Liberal campaigning “misled” northern Tasmanians about the intent of Labor’s $25 million pre-election pledge to help develop a Tasmanian AFL team, Mr Gutwein accused the Opposition of “[prioritising] those commitments over other matters”.

“In stark contrast, the Hodgman Liberal government has established the Football Tasmania Board to solidify the foundation of football right through the state,” Mr Gutwein said.

“The case we are building is not and never has been reliant on a $25 million handout from the federal government.”

An AFL project team would be announced “soon,” the Treasurer said.

EARLIER:

TASMANIA’S Treasurer has admitted his party’s intensely parochial federal election campaign misled Northern voters about Labor’s promise to spend $25 million “on Hobart AFL”.

The Coalition comprehensively outmanoeuvred Labor in Northern Tasmania to win Braddon and most likely Bass, helping to deliver the Morrison Government a majority.

The campaign included messaging focused on the North and North-West including “Labor wants to spend $75 million on Hobart AFL and Mona. Stop them!”.

The Liberals produced a football emblazoned with the slogan “$25 million for health, not for Hobart AFL”.

This was despite Labor’s AFL team promise for any Tasmanian state team regardless of where it was based.

The Liberals’ parochial campaign has been lashed by Labor and former state Liberal leader and AFL campaigner Bob Cheek, for setting the state back in pursuit of the AFL team dream.

The tourism sector has also expressed dismay at the politicking around Mona.

When questioned over the honesty of the Liberals’ election claims on AFL, Treasurer Peter Gutwein said “there was a lot said in the federal election campaign”.

‘They obviously made some points, to be frank when not all of their messaging went to the detail,” Mr Gutwein said.

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“It’s obvious we are quite parochial in Tasmania, it’s obvious in terms of the way the North supports a particular team and the South another.”

State Treasurer Peter Gutwein, Liberal candidate for Bass Bridget Archer and Dorset mayor Greg Howard by the Sideling, near Scottsdale. Picture: CHRISTOPHER TESTA

Mr Gutwein highlighted the Coalition’s spending across the state.

“When you actually look at the level of investment that’s been done around the state by the (Coalition)...both prior to and during the election campaign, the investment has been broadly spread,” he said.

“At the end of the day the Morrison govt the coalition through the campaign they outlined their plan they thought was imp for Tasmania and what they thought was important to the country,.”

Mr Gutwein said the State Government was committed to an AFL team for Tasmania, and “The challenge we need to address going forward is how to bring the state together in terms of supporting one team in a national competition and that’s why we have taken steps we have so far,” he said.

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