Macquarie Point Stadium: Tasmanian Government accused of fudging stadiums advice

Parts of the legal advice the government used to justify removing the Macquarie Point stadium from the state’s top planning body appear to have been dictated by the government itself, the Greens say.

Greens deputy leader Vica Bayley speaks to the media on Parliament Lawns on Monday, April 14 2025.

Parts of the legal advice the government used to justify removing the Macquarie Point stadium from the state’s top planning body appear to have been dictated by the government itself, the Greens say.

An analysis of more than 337 pages of correspondence released in response to a House of Assembly motion reveal the government and senior bureaucrats had a strong influence on the wording of the advice, deputy Greens leader Vica Bayley said.

The Macquarie Point Development Corporation and the Liberal minority government both used advice from law firm MinterEllison to criticise the Tasmanian Planning Commission for the breadth of it assessment of the stadium.

It is extremely unusual for the government to release legal advice it receives to the public.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Sunday announced the government would bypass the TPC and the Project of State Significance and put the planning and approval decision in the hands of the parliament.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff at Macquarie Point with aspiring Devils, Daisy Hollick, 7, Toby Hollick, 5, Lakeyn Millhouse, 5, Billy Millhouse 9, and Parker Millhouse, 3. Picture: Linda Higginson

Mr Bayley said the correspondence released to the parliament included a revision to a key section by the head of the Premier’s department Kathrine Morgan-Wicks.

“We now know the head of the Premier’s Department actually wrote part of the so-called legal advice herself,” he said.

“No wonder the government was so quick to point to this particular section of MinterEllison’s letter as a key argument against the Planning Commission — it was their own representative’s words all along.

“The Rockliff Government has been caught red-handed.

“These documents show how the sausage is made — how the government has manufactured their own false pretence for fast-track stadium legislation because the current assessment process looks clear to recommend a rejection of the stadium.”

An MPDC spokesman said there was nothing untoward about the process of seeking legal advice.

“It is normal for discussions between consultants and clients to include reviews and to provide feedback on draft advice, but the final advice provided is up to the law firm,” the spokesman said.

“We provided local context and commented on language. This is normal practice when seeking this type of advice.

“To be clear, the matters raised in the advice were identified by the legal team.

“MPDC will continue to operate within the parameters of the current process. It is MPDC’s current intention to provide further representations to the TPC as previously stated.”

Liberal minister Felix Ellis said MPs would be able to express their views when the legislation came before parliament.

Minister Felix Ellis. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“This has been the most scrutinised project in Tasmania’s history, and so ultimately, it will be a decision for parliament to make,” he said.

“In this state, the PoSS process would have ensured a vote of parliament.

“The new legislation will ensure a vote of parliament. So it’s essentially the same result for us parliamentarians.

“We’ll need to have our say as the representatives of the people of Tasmania and determine whether we want Tasmania to have our team and deliver the dream that our kids can aspire to, and a dream of Tasmanians for generations.”

Public representations on the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s draft Integrated Assessment Report will continue as planned until May 8.

The government’s planned legislation is expected to be released for public consultation in May.