GBE sales, stadium both on the nose: survey

A new survey reveals the public sentiment behind Hobart’s hot topics, including an AFL team and stadium, GBE sales and a cable car.

Stadium, GBE sales, cable car Survey tackles hot topics

Support for the sale of government business enterprises is even lower than for the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium, a new analysis has found.

The AFL Stadium and Team Support Community Sentiment survey by 3P Advisory has looked at changes in public sentiment about the AFL team and stadium and compared it with other issues over time.

The sale of GBEs was the least popular government policy canvassed, with a net negative sentiment score of -35.

The stadium registered a score of -30, and the proposed Mt Wellington cable car +22.

By comparison, policies in favour of affordable housing attracted +73 favourability and protecting the natural environment +71.

Artists impression of the proposed development of a cable car on Mt Wellington / kunanyi by MWCC.

Time series data reflecting the views of around 1100 respondents showed that the level of support for a Tasmanian AFL team has increased slowly over the last year.

Those strongly or somewhat in favour of establishing a team have increased from a combined total of 39 per cent in March 2024 to 44 per cent in March 2025.

Over the same period, the number of those opposed declined from 32 per cent to 29 per cent and the number of those who were neutral from 30 per cent to 28 per cent.

Opposition to the stadium softened too: 62 per cent of those surveyed in March 2024 were opposed to the stadium, down to 53 per cent in March 2025 — although those strongly opposed dipped only from 43 per cent to 40 per cent.

The number of those undecided rose from 13 per cent to 20 per cent and the total strongly or somewhat in favour rose from 25 per cent to 26 per cent.

Kym Goodes of 3P. Picture: Linda Higginson

On Tuesday, 3P Advisory director Kym Goodes said the data painted an interesting picture of community sentiment towards the AFL deal.

“Tasmanians continue to embrace their AFL team but the stadium plan is running into a headwind of continual strong opposition,” she said.

“Pride in a team is not translating into a passion for the stadium.

“It is the story of two very different journeys. Tasmanians are proud of their AFL team’s potential and want to see it succeed, but the price of the stadium to achieve that dream is not supported.

“The 3P data demonstrates that timing, trust and transparency matter. In an era where public trust is fragile, understanding community sentiment over time demonstrates that the initial opposition to the stadium was not just a short-term spike.

“The stadium is proving persistent, deepening and now embedded into broadly community sentiment.”