Labor to back UTAS city move by opposing legislation on land sales
Labor’s policy on uni’s housing plan that would see the institution move into the city has provoked a mixed response. Here’s the latest.
Tasmania
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Labor’s decision to back the University of Tasmania’s move from Sandy Bay to central Hobart has been condemned by the government and activists, but lauded by the housing industry.
Opposition leader Dean Winter on Tuesday announced his party would vote against a government bill requiring the sale of land at the campus to be approved by both Houses of Parliament.
Liberal member for Clark Madeleine Ogilvie defended the government’s policy and accused Labor of not having a policy at the recent state election.
“They refused to state a position on UTAS during the campaign because they were fearful of the electoral backlash,” she said.
“Only now, comfortable in opposition and with four years until they face the voters, have they revealed they will defy the will of the overwhelming majority of residents of Hobart.
“The government has a very clear election mandate to implement this policy, noting Labor did not oppose it during the campaign.”
Co-Chair of Save UTAS Angela Bird said the city move plans had been costly and had damaged the university’s reputation.
“It’s wasting $200m that could be spent on a Sandy Bay campus,” she said.
“Students and staff have objected to the move. It’s not just a community objection, its students and staff as well.
“And students have shown this by not attending in the CBD, just up the road here at the KPMG building, they are lucky to get 30 per cent attendance”
“The future of the university is at stake. We are seeing a decline in enrolment. We are seeing a decline in morale — and it’s not just about the move it’s about why the university has been currently managed.”
Mr Winter said the government’s position was “an embarrassment”.
“Having been education minister for most of the last decade and watching UTAS commence the move of over half the university into the city, Jeremy Rockliff suddenly decided he would intervene to stop it.
“It is the worst of cynical politics and awful policy that will place our university at serious financial risk and scare investors away.”
Labor’s announcement was strongly backed by the Housing Industry Association.
“For many years, Tasmania’s demand for housing has not been met with sufficient supply, resulting in significant stress on families and households in both the private and public housing market,” the association’s executive director Stuart Collins said.
“Increasing supply is the key to addressing the housing and rental market problem and we need policies that support this,” he said.
“Attempts to block the release of the UTAS Sandy Bay campus for sensible residential development that could support a mix of housing, including medium density, presents a significant backward step in solving Tasmania’s housing supply issues.”
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Campus Life (Southern Tasmania) Professor Nicholas Farrelly said the university was concerned about the government’s legislation.
“The University has serious concerns about the legal, financial and educational implications of the legislation.
“Investment in new STEM education facilities is critical for Tasmania’s future and to support the next generation of students, staff and researchers.”
And Greens education spokesman Vica Bayley said he was glad to see Labor finally come up with a policy.
“The issues confronting UTAS extend far beyond the stalled move to the city and the Greens believe that Tasmania’s only university must be nation-leading in its academic outcomes, educational experience for students and accountability to the state.
“The Sandy Bay campus, transferred to the university in 1944 by the Tasmanian Parliament, should be maintained for educational purposes.”
UTAS move into CBD reignited after Labor makes stance clear
Labor will back the University of Tasmania’s move into the CBD and strongly oppose government legislation making it harder to sell off its Sandy Bay campus.
Party leader Dean Winter will announce his party’s support for the contentious city move in a speech on the economic future of the state on Tuesday morning.
Mr Winter will tell business, industry and education leaders that his party stands for jobs and housing — and that freezing the university’s assets will damage the state’s economic future.
The Liberals made an election pledge to pass legislation requiring the university to secure approval from both Houses of Parliament before selling off land at its Sandy Bay campus.
“Their plan will prevent the construction of nearly 2,000 new houses, in the middle of an unprecedented period of housing unaffordability,” he says in the speech.
“It will mean the university can’t fund its new $500m STEM facility, at a time when young people are leaving for the mainland in numbers not seen since the 90s.
“It’s a plan that will do serious damage to the finances and long-term viability of the university — our state’s only university — in an era where young people will need degrees in unprecedented numbers.
“And it will irreparably harm Tasmania’s reputation as an investment destination, by pulling the rug out from under a development process the government has supported for the best part of a decade.”
Mr Winter’s position comes in defiance of a 2022 elector poll of Hobart City Council ratepayers who opposed the university’s planned move by a margin of three to one.
But he says Labor stands for more housing, more construction jobs, a stronger university and a thriving capital city.
“I know there will be opposition to this decision – just as there has been with some of the other decisions I’ve made so far.
“I fully expect I’ll be getting quite a few letters this week.
“But I also know Tasmania will not make the progress we need if our political leaders allow the state’s best interests to be constantly overridden by a vocal minority.
“If we’re too cowardly to say what we think, or to be clear about what we stand for, then we let them win before they’ve even started.
“If we’re too weak to make a tough decision, we’ll end up being led by those who want to hold our state back, by people who are perfectly comfortable if nothing changes, because they’re already perfectly comfortable.”
The Liberals criticised Labor for not enunciating a clear policy on the university move during this year’s state election campaign.
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