Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remains upbeat about Mac Point Stadium

Laying out his thoughts on the $715m multipurpose stadium at Mac Point, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on the AFL to “do its bit”.>

Designs of what Hobart's new AFL stadium at Macquarie Point could look like. Images supplied by AFL

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made clear his hopes for Macquarie Point and the proposed $715m multipurpose stadium but Tasmania might not know if federal funding is approved until the May Federal budget.

On radio Saturday morning Mr Albanese remained upbeat and open minded about the project laying out his thoughts on what should be built on site to help the stadium and the precinct benefit the state and community.

He has also told the AFL that they need to do more to make the project a reality.

Mr Albanese was a guest on the Waterboys 500th show on 7HO FM.

The show’s hosts Brent Costelloe, Cameron Brown and Blair Brownless celebrated the milestone with a line up of special guests which included the Prime Minister, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and former Australian Cricket captain Tim Paine.

But the interview with the Prime Minister was the one that warmed the hearts of those backing a stadium and Tasmanian’s AFL dream.

The Tasmanian government is seeking $240m from the Commonwealth to help build the stadium.

A no from the federal government would put the project and team at risk.

But Mr Albanese said nothing to dampen the spirits of supporters; instead he laid out what he would like to see at the Macquarie Point site. He made it very clear that the precinct needed to be a vibrant place for people to live and meet all year round.

Images supplied by AFL

“What you don’t want is a stadium that when things aren’t happening there is no economic activity in the area,” Mr Albanese said.

“So that means that you need a transport hub, increased ferry investment has already been committed to by the government when we went to the last election, the rail line that runs through the site, of course, provides an opportunity for further investment.

“You need to use the site to have additional housing but also commercial activity.

“This is prime real estate and you should be able to leverage up that prime real estate to make an enormous difference.”

“You want people to be living in that area so that it becomes a vibrant area.”

Mr Albanese cited successful urban renewal projects like Barangaroo in Sydney and ones that didn’t quite hit the mark like the Sydney Olympic site.

A young swimmer jumps into the water at Marrinawi Cove on January 12, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. Swimmers can now enjoy a newly opened swimming area at Marrinawi Cove, located in Sydney's Barangaroo development, after a safety inspection was completed. Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

“Perhaps there wasn’t enough thought given to what happens when there isn’t an activity going on there.”

 He said to make sure the area was vibrant year round it needed restaurants and commercial activity so that space was not “effectively wasted”.

But on the stadium funding issue Mr Albanese said he would like to see the AFL do more.

“The AFL needs to do its bit,” he said.

“They are going to be major beneficiaries of this and I would like to see the AFL commit to maximise the support that it can give.

“They have been given substantial taxpayer support in the past and have benefited from the investment.

“A Tasmanian team will produce returns for the AFL over a period of time.”

Mr Albanese also spoke of State Labor’s opposition to the project and calls for the money to be spent on health and housing.

He said his government was looking at ways to increase funding in those sectors not just in Tasmania but right across the country.

But he knew that health was the number one priority to most Australians.

“That’s why any stadium proposal has to look at what the return will be on the investment,” Mr Albanese said.

“Will it pay itself off over time by bringing people to Tasmania, by bringing that economic activity?

“That is part of the analysis my government is doing.

“We are working closely with the Tasmanian Government and all state and territory governments on improvements to health already.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Minister for Energy and Renewables Guy Barnett visit Hydro at Cambridge, Tasmania on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.

“We’ve made significant announcements in primary health care and we are looking towards a trial as well about how we can take pressure of hospitals through the creation of urgent care clinics.

“We will continue to work through issues on housing.” Julie Collins as a Minister in the Federal Government is doing a fantastic job with the increased investment we are going to have with social housing as well as our national housing accord … to promote further construction of private sector housing as well.

“We are examining it in the lead-up to our May budget.”

“I’m very supportive of Tasmania getting an AFL team but I am also very cautious about the use of taxpayer dollars and it’s got to go to the most effective form of investment.”