Tasmania’s Labor leader Rebecca White says next election could be referendum on Macquarie Point stadium

The proposed stadium at Macquarie Point could become the central issue at the next state election, Labor leader Rebecca White says. HER CONCERNS >

Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White at Risdon Vale. Picture: Chris Kidd

The proposed stadium at Macquarie Point could become the central issue at the next state election, Labor leader Rebecca White says.

Maintaining her party’s implacable opposition to the project, Ms White said the Tasmanian community should be able to have their say on whether the stadium is built.

The next election is not due for two years, but Ms White said the government had a record of being slow to bring major developments to fruition.

“The next election, I hope will be the first chance for Tasmanians to have a say on whether they support the vision of the Rockliff government to build a stadium at Macquarie Point,” she said.

“Overwhelmingly, the feedback we’re getting from the community is that they don’t agree that this is the right way to spend a billion dollars of taxpayer money.

“They’ve got a terrible track record of progressing infrastructure projects and if they continue to drag their heels like they have with other projects that are arguably of higher priority, then this may well become a state election issue.”

The opposition leader said that there was a risk that the project might never come before parliament or the Hobart City Council if the government used powers under the Major Projects or Project of State Significance process.

“This wasn’t a project that was taken to the last state election.

“It’s not been something that’s come to the parliament and the government are now indicating that they might overlook the regular planning processes and implement their own planning scheme for that site.

“So in order to progress this project, if that’s the case, does that mean the Tasmanian community never gets a say on this project?

“We’re talking about a significant infrastructure development, a significant amount of public money that may never have the community allowed a voice on this.”

Ms White said Labor remained staunchly opposed to the stadium.

“I have been clear from about 12 months ago that we don’t support building a stadium on the Hobart’s waterfront with taxpayer money.

“That’s a clear position that’s well understood by the broader community. And that remains our position.

“Let’s have a look at what the government’s actually proposing to do here and see the detail of what they take as next steps.

“Because they have some serious questions to answer first, before they even think about entering into any future contracts for development at that site.”