AFL stadium the wrong priority when Tasmanians are doing it tough

The state government is being accused of falling ‘asleep at the wheel’ by prioritising a new AFL stadium over struggling Tasmanians, a Lambie MP says. Here’s why.

Member for Braddon Miriam Beswick and Member for Lyons Andrew Jenner of the Jacqui Lambie Network Parliament Question Time. Picture: Chris Kidd

The state government should not be putting money into an AFL stadium when so many Tasmanians are struggling with the cost of living, a Jacqui Lambie Network MP says.

A delegation from the AFL was in Hobart yesterday for talks on progress towards the local teams and the stadium.

Member for Lyons Andrew Jenner accused the government of being “asleep at the wheel”.

“Tasmanians are doing it tough. A study conducted by consumer group Choice found that Tasmanians are paying 25 per cent more for our groceries than on the mainland and our wages are on average 10 per cent less,” he said.

“According to a recent TasCOSS report, one-in-two Tasmanians are food insecure due to the rising cost of living and one in five households regularly skip meals. This has tripled in two years.

“The government needs to stop blowing money on pet projects that only benefit the big end of town and start looking for solutions to help alleviate the cost-of-living crisis.

“We cannot, in these circumstances, be seen to be focusing all of our attention on luxury projects like the AFL stadium.

“The JLN believes cost-of-living needs to be the absolute focus of the budget”.

Tasmanian Greens Leader Vica Bayley speaks at Hobart Cenotaph with Cassy O'•Connor MLC. Picture: Linda Higginson

Greens MP Vica Bayley said that delays and cost blowouts to the stadium would put the stadium in jeopardy.

“It’s very clear that to secure the future of an AFL team here in Tasmania, Premier Rockliff needs to stand up for Tasmanians and stand up for our inherent right to have a team irrespective of a new stadium at Macquarie Point and start to have serious conversations with the AFL about renegotiating the AFL deal so that the stadium condition is not part of it.

“It’s clear that a stadium at Macquarie Point and the condition in the AFL agreement is the greatest risk to the Tasmanian team.

“We all know that major construction projects have blowout and overrun and Tasmanian taxpayers are on the hook for every single dollar of cost overrun when it comes to this billion dollar stadium.”