‘A lot to ask for’: Sports Minister Anika Wells hesitant about stadium
The Federal Government has been coy on the proposed stadium at Macquarie Point. But now the Federal Sports Minister has weighed in, and she doesn’t seem convinced. What she said.
Tasmania
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Federal sports Minister Anika Wells has questioned the need for a $750m stadium at Hobart’s Macquarie Point to secure a Tasmania team.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has previously been adamant the federal government would need to see a business case before it backed the project, but speaking to SEN Test Cricket on Saturday, Ms Wells seemingly shed more light on the government’s position.
“We want one, and Tassie wants one. They deserve one, we just don’t think it needs to be conditional on a stadium to get there, no one else had to do that,” Ms Wells said when asked about the push for an AFL team.
“375 million bucks for a stadium is a lot to ask for.”
On Friday AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan revealed the AFL would invest $15m to the stadium.
The announcement was welcomed by the state government, which will hold talks with the Prime Minister this week.
Other funding partners are being sought for the project.
An in-principle agreement was signed with the state government last month for a 19th licence.
Ms Lambie said Tasmania could not afford the stadium, amid health and housing issues.
Minister for Sport and Recreation Nic Street has responded to his federal counterparts Macquarie Point stadium views.
Mr Street, who was on hand with Collingwood president Jeff Browne in Hobart on Sunday to announce that the government hadsigned a $1.23 million agreement to bring Super Netball to the state said Wells’ comments “are what they are”.
He was hopeful once the full proposal was put to the Prime Minister by Premier Jeremy Rockliff that its merits would be seen.
“The minister’s comments yesterday were about linking the stadium to the AFL push but what I’m saying is that once the federal government understand through the business case that it’s not just about an AFL stadium, it’s about a precinct for all arts, entertainment and events I think they will see the merit of the entire proposal,” Mr Street said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has previously been adamant the federal government would need to see a business case before it backed the project.
The business case is yet to be delivered by the state government but is thought to be close to completion.
On Friday AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan revealed the AFL would invest $15m to the stadium.
The announcement was welcomed by the state government, which will hold talks with the Prime Minister this week.
Other funding partners are being sought for the project.
Ms Lambie said Tasmania could not afford the stadium, amid health and housing issues.
It’s something Labor leader Rebecca White agrees with.
“Tasmanians know it’s not the right priority for our state,” Ms White said at a press conference on Sunday.
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