National RSL chief enters stadium row to protect ‘sacred’ war memorial

RSL Australia has criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for supporting the Macquarie Point stadium, claiming the design threatens the sanctity of the century-old Hobart Cenotaph.

Architects renders supplied to RSL Tasmania showing the proposed Macquarie Point AFL Stadium from the Hobart Cenotaph.

The national president of the RSL says he is disappointed by comments from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urging the Legislative Council to pass the proposed Macquarie Point stadium.

The veterans’ organisation says the current design for the stadium adversely impacts on the sanctity and heritage of the Hobart Cenotaph.

RSL Australia said it strongly supports its state branch position on the stadium and says the project must respect the sacrifice of Tasmania’s veterans and war dead.

National RSL President Peter Tinley said the century-old Hobart Cenotaph was a sacred site for defence veterans, their families and for all Tasmanians, and its heritage values, cultural and spiritual significance must be respected and protected for all time.

RSL Australia President Peter Tinley. Pic: Colin Murty The Australian

“The Hobart Cenotaph is the nation’s oldest state capital city war memorial, celebrating its centenary this year, and the current stadium design will forever change its sacred values,” Mr Tinley said.

“It was purposely sited to command key sightlines across the city and down the Derwent River where the troops departed for Gallipoli, and many of these would be destroyed, and the Cenotaph dwarfed by the roofed stadium design.”

RSL Tasmania has proposed a compromise, saying it would support a stadium provided the development does not interrupt the sight lines from the base of the Cenotaph to St George’s Anglican Church, Battery Point and the mouth of the River Derwent – changes that would

likely require the stadium to be built without a roof.

A roofed stadium is a condition of the state’s AFL deal.

Mr Tinley said reducing the impact of the design on the Cenotaph would address the RSL’s concerns.

“We encourage the Tasmanian Parliament and the AFL to adopt a sensible compromise and develop a lower height stadium that still provides for Tasmania’s AFL entry but protects the values of the State’s sacred monument to our war veterans and service personnel,” he said.

“Prime Minister Albanese should also consider these values in his comments.”