Missing key stadium deadlines no deal-breaker: Premier

Missing two key deadlines for the construction of the Macquarie Point stadium did not mean the state’s deal with the AFL was off, Premier Jeremy Rockliff has said.

Missed Macquarie Point stadium deadlines are no cause for alarm, Premier Jeremy Rockliff says.

Missing two key deadlines for the construction of the Macquarie Point stadium did not mean the state’s deal with the AFL was off, Premier Jeremy Rockliff said.

Under the contract signed with the AFL, the Tasmanian government was to have secured

“all relevant planning and environmental approvals for the Stadium Construction Activities in accordance with the relevant laws” by June 30.

The Tasmanian Planning Commission is still considering the development under the Projects of State Significance Process.

Renders showing the relocated Goods Shed at Macquarie Point, to make way for a multipurpose stadium. Picture: Cox Architecture

The government was also required to have obtained the project approved by the Public Works Committee.

The state election means that even if the approvals are obtained, it will not be for several months at the earliest.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the AFL was giving the state some leeway — but the delay was the Opposition’s fault.

“When Dean Winter blew up the parliament and forced an election, he put in jeopardy Tasmanian young people’s dreams to be playing for their own AFL and AFLW team,” he said.

“The AFL accept the fact that we are having an election because Dean Winter forced us to, and have allowed and will allow that flexibility for a new returned Tasmanian government to continue on working through those arrangements.”

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb questioned whether there was room for flexibility in the deal, which the government has repeatedly insisted was non-negotiable.

Independent MLC for Nelson, Meg Webb. Picture: Linda Higginson

“Do the two missed deadlines mean the state is in breach of the deal, and if so does that make the Agreement null and void, or will those provisions now be up for renegotiation?

“If these missed deadlines are to be renegotiated, there are serious questions surrounding when such renegotiations can occur, and by whom.

“Further, if parts of the deal to do with obtaining environmental and planning approvals, and the sign off by the Parliamentary Public Works Committee can be renegotiated, why not other elements of the deal?

Ms Webb said any renegotiations should not occur during the current caretaker period of government, but must now wait until the new parliament is convened.

“As we are now in caretaker mode, thanks to the current state election, I am calling on the Liberals to confirm that any renegotiations of the deal, such as the apparent two missed 30 June deadlines, will not occur during the caretaker period and not until the new parliament sits.

“I am calling on the Premier to clarify the status of the AFL Agreement in light of the two 30th June deadlines, and to undertake that no renegotiations will occur during the caretaker period until a new parliament is sworn in,” Ms Webb said.