Anti Macquarie Point stadium rally organisers demand Premier Rockliff call election

Calls for Premier Jeremy Rockliff to immediately announce a state election and put the Macquarie Point stadium “to the Tasmanian people” have been sounded ahead of an anti-stadium rally. WHAT THE PREMIER SAID >

HOBART, AUSTRALIA – MAY 03: Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff speaks to the media during an AFL media opportunity to announce the commitment to establishing a 19th AFL team, in Tasmania, at North Hobart Oval on May 03, 2023 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Calls for Premier Jeremy Rockliff to immediately announce a state election and put the Macquarie Point stadium “to the Tasmanian people” have been sounded ahead of an anti-stadium rally.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff was invited to speak at a rally against the stadium on Friday morning, shortly before the state government was thrown into chaos after a pair of Liberal backbenchers announced they would be deserting the party.

Member for Lyons, John Tucker, and Member for Bass, Lara Alexander, publicly resigned this morning.

They both said they felt the government had lost its way and that they were unhappy about the Macquarie Point stadium.

The pair said they will continue to serve their electorates as independent members, electing to move to the crossbench.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff in a previous Question Time in the Tasmanian parliament. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Organisers of the Stop the Stadium rally planned to meet at midday on Saturday at parliament Lawns, where they invited Premier Rockliff to speak at the rally.

They called on all Tasmanians against the stadium to show up and demand a state election be called “immediately” in order to end the “instability and uncertainty which will otherwise plague Tasmania in coming months”.

Organiser Richard Flanagan said the Mr Rockliff should explain to Tasmanians why “he thinks a billion dollars plus of taxpayer’s money” was better spent on a stadium “than housing and hospitals and education”.

“Particularly now we know Tasmania’s GST revenues have been cut by a billion dollars over the next four years,” he said.

“The Premier said his secret deal, the details of which he refuses to reveal, was going to unify Tasmania,

“Never were truer words spoken – it has, and the majority is united against the stadium.”

Speaking to media in Launceston this afternoon, Mr Rockliff said he would not be calling an early election.

Lawyer Roland Browne said the rally was about showing Mr Rockliff and “his remaining colleagues” what Tasmanian’s want and think.

“It’s about time he stopped listening to AFL suits and started listening to the people,” Mr Flanagan said.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin asked “every Tasmanian politician no matter their political colour” to think “carefully about their actions”.

“ … And to ensure they are not responsible for blowing up the AFL dream. To do so would be unforgivable,” he said.

The rally will feature Senator Jacqui Lambie, Greens leader Cassie O’Connor, Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds, Meg Webb MLC and Andrew Wilkie.