CEO of Tourism Industry Council Tasmania calls for politicians to be on ‘right side of history’

The head of a key tourism industry body has called for politicians to be on the “right side of history” after the resignation of a pair of Liberal MPs plunged the government – and plans for the Macquarie Point stadium – into chaos. WHAT THE PM SAID >

PM Anthony Albanese and Tasmania premier Jeremy Rockliff at the announcement of federal funding to upgrade Launceston's UTAS Stadium. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

The head of a key tourism industry body has called for politicians to be on the “right side of history” after the resignation of a pair of Liberal MPs plunged the government – and plans for the Macquarie Point stadium – into chaos.

CEO of the Tourism Industry Council Tasmania Luke Martin said the resignation of Member for Bass Lara Alexander and Member for Lyons John Tucker had created “a lot of uncertainty and concern” for the future of Tasmania’s AFL team and the development of Macquarie Point.

“The key message to every politician, whether they’re Labor, Liberal, Green, independent is to not be on the wrong side of history here and not be responsible for killing the AFL dream,” Mr Martin said.

AFL boss Gil McLachlan earlier on Friday told 3AW that he was confident the stadium would go ahead regardless of any changes in, or to, government – a sentiment Mr Martin said he hoped would stick.

“We certainly want this to be more than a dormant car park and we want it to be a place that defines Hobart as a destination for the next 10-15 years, and we want everything that comes with that: to bring visitors into Tasmania for generations to come,” he said.

CEO of Tourism Industry Council Tasmania, Luke Martin, speaking about the Macquarie Point stadium, after the resignation of Liberal MPs Lara Alexander and John Tucker.

“We know the AFL team is not just at thing that Tasmania deserves, but it is also going to be a significant economic boom for the state, and particularly for a visitor economy.”

Speaking in Sydney today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he maintained support for the project.

“Our cities need to provide opportunity for economic activity as well as lifting up the quality of life,” Mr Albanese said.

“And I think that in Hobart this site has been left derelict for too long.”

Mr Martin said the eyes of the rest of the country would now be locked on Tasmania after the day’s events.

“I think the rest of the country would be looking at this today and wondering ‘is Tasmania just absolutely shooting itself in the foot?’,” he said.

“We’ve finally after 30 years of scrapping, achieved the dream of an AFL licence, and we’re creating something in Hobart that’s been a proven winner, for all cities in Australia.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

He applauded the premier for having the “guts” to make a big decision that had “been unpopular”.

“Hopefully the outcome of the next few days is that the uncertainty is removed and we can start planning ahead with certainty.”

The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry also called for certainty for the state’s business community.

TCCI CEO Michael Bailey said the state needed a strong government to avoid uncertainty to affect business confidence.

“The business community and the broader community both need certainty that their government is getting on with the job of providing the strong leadership that the state needs,” Mr Bailey said.

“We urge all of our elected members to work in the best interests of the state and focus on the community rather than themselves.”

CEO of Master Builders Tasmania Matthew Pollock echoed calls for certainty on the project, noting it meant “thousands of jobs and hundreds of apprentices”.

“This is a game-changing infrastructure project that will create opportunities for an entire generation of tradies in Tasmania and it’s too important to become a political football,” Mr Pollock said.