New AFL stadium at Macquarie Point build to start ‘as soon as possible’: Premier Jeremy Rockliff
Premier Jeremy Rockliff wants to start the new stadium construction as soon as possible as opposition parties ask to see the fine print of the AFL deal.
Tasmania
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The government is keen to begin construction of a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point “as soon as possible” and use the project to unite Tasmanians, Premier Jeremy Rockliff said.
A day after securing a deal with the AFL for a Tasmanian team in the national competition, Mr Rockliff said the project was a top government priority.
“We want to see cranes in the sky, shovels in the ground as soon as possible,” he said.
“It really is a time for that Tasmanians to unite around, not only the team but also the associated infrastructure.
‘I know there are challenges. I know people have expressed their views but this is a time to recognise that we will not have our own team without securing the funds from a federal Labor government and Tasmanian Liberal government on the Macquarie Point precinct.”
“You’ve got to have both: we cannot have a team and not the investment at Macquarie Point.
“I want to find a way to reach out to my opposition, to reach out to Tasmanians that may well be sceptical about the project as a unifier. We can do this.”
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has vowed Tasmania’s AFL team will be a game-changer
Mr Rockliff said he was confident that the government would be able to secure the private equity needed to complete the Macquarie Point redevelopment.
State and federal funding pledges at present add up to around $615m. The stadium is tipped to cost $715m. The associated works at Macquarie Point and its surrounds are uncosted.
“I’m very confident that we will secure the funds whether it be through private equity … this is a huge opportunity again, people are excited about sponsors knocking on our door for the team, the stadium itself,” Mr Rockliff said.
Amid calls for the government to make public the deal signed with the AFL on Wednesday, the Premier said he was keen to be as “open and transparent as possible”.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds shared her views of the deal signed on Wednesday on social media.
“Congratulations Tassie. You’re the proud owner of an AFL team. And it only cost us $1 billion,” she wrote on Facebook.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor called on the government to release the AFL contract.
“Why hasn’t it been immediately released? Is Jeremy Rockliff waiting to get permission from Gill McLachlan, before he releases this deal that he signed on behalf of the people of Tasmania without asking them, without consulting, without asking if Tasmanians wanted a stadium,” she said.
“Absolutely 100 per cent, Tasmanians can be sure the costs will blow out on this stadium.
“We have a premier here who’s not being honest about that. He’s not being transparent about what he’s signed over.”
Labor MLC Sarah Lovell agreed that Tasmanians deserved to know the details of the deal.
“Tasmanians not only deserve to know what’s in the deal but we need to know what’s in the deal,” she said.
“The Tasmanian public has many, many questions. I’m getting those questions in the street. I’m sure the Premier is getting those questions.
“Tasmanians not only need to know but they deserve to know what the premier has signed them up for.”
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