Labor responds to swipes labelling the party as ‘naive’ to renegotiate deal

The fight over the proposed Macquarie Point stadium continues with a former Labor leader having his two-bobs worth. Find out his views.

Stadium stoush reignites between Labor leader Rebecca White and independent MP David O’Byrne.

Labor has deflected suggestions it is “naïve” to believe it will be able to renegotiate the deal with the AFL on the proposed Macquarie Point stadium.

Former Labor MP, turned independent David O’Byrne, told SEN Radio that it was naïve for Labor leader Rebecca White to talk about renegotiating the deal when it was the AFL clubs who also needed to be consulted.

Mr O’Byrne told the Sunday Tasmanian the 18 AFL clubs and the AFL always worked closely together.

David O'Byrne at Kangaroo Bay. Picture: Linda Higginson

“It’s naive to think that you can have a separate negotiation with the AFL, without the president’s making a decision, because the presidents were the one and the full (AFL) commission who made the decision together,” he said.

“So to say that you won’t talk to the clubs, but the league, is naive and just means that you won’t be able to renegotiate, and it’s naive to think you can.”

Ms White has said Labor supports Tasmania having an AFL team but if elected would negotiate the stadium deal.

Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson seized on Mr O’Byrne’s comments saying he had “demolished” Ms White’s “fanciful claim she can renegotiate an AFL deal that doesn’t require a new Mac Point stadium”.

However, Braddon Labor MP Dr Shane Broad hit back saying: “Michael Ferguson seems to have forgotten that the Liberals’ massive infighting and disunity on this issue is exactly what plunged Jeremy Rockliff’s government into minority and forced him to call an early election.”

“Labor remains focussed on the issues that really matter to Tasmanians this election like taking urgent action on the cost-of-living, repairing our failing health system and addressing the housing crisis,” Dr Broad said.

Labor treasury spokesperson Shane Broad. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

Mr O’Byrne, who is president of the Southern Football League, said when doorknocking voters supported the stadium after they were told it would have significant economic benefits and not just host seven AFL games a year.

“The government are running dead on the stadium and not actually out there explaining it, but once you explain it to people, there’s a whole lot more people that are in support of it,” he said.

“Good governments deliver health, education, housing, public transport, and economic opportunities, which will drive economic growth for over a decade, not just in the build of the facility.

“When Mona was built, four or five new hotels were built off the back of it, a decade of construction jobs and activity, and there were ongoing jobs in hospitality and tourism and this will have the exact same impact.”