‘Money well spent’: Tasmanian government has defended it’s decision kick in extra cash for AFL bid

Jeremy Rockliff says he’s ‘comfortable’ with the state increasing its annual financial commitment to the AFL in an attempt to get the bid for a Tassie team over the line. See the latest figures.

The state government has defended its decision to sweeten its AFL bid deal in chasing a licence for Tasmania by increasing its annual commitment from $10m to $12m for the first 10 years of the team in an attempt to get the bid over the line.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan presented the state’s bid for a 19th licence to the 18 club presidents in Melbourne on Monday.

They walked away impressed and now take the proposal and its details back to their clubs for assessment, before returning for a vote on the pitch at a date to be set in the next month or so.

McLachlan revealed the government lifted its $10m-a-year commitment over a decade to $12m over 10 years, with an increase to $60m for a high performance complex – another increase of $10m.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff is comfortable with the decision, saying it would be money well-spent.

The 2014 Macquarie Point masterplan, featuring an AFL stadium, by The Office for Collective Design.

“We have always said there is an enormous opportunity for Tasmania should we get the licence and become the 19th team in the AFL,” he said.

“It’s a huge economic, job and social opportunity for rural and regional Tasmania.

“We have been in negotiations with the AFL, we believe very strongly, and we have struck the right balance where we can invest and receive greater return for our investment in terms of yearly investment.

“Some $12m a year can return $120m-plus and not only the economic and jobs benefits but in social services as well and getting young people engaged, active and healthy in regional communities.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff says all Tasmanians should "embrace" plans to build a $750 million stadium at Macquarie Point. Mr Rockliff launched the vision alongside Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin, Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker, Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief executive Steve Old, Property Council of Australia Tasmanian executive director Rebecca Ellston and Hospitality Minister Nic Street. Picture: Amber Wilson

“Supporting local footy clubs is part of the reason why we are doing this.”

Mr Rockliff said he did run the spending increase past Labor and the Greens.

“I’ve had communications with the Leader of the Opposition and the Greens and they will make up their own minds,” he said.

“In respect to that, we have had very good tri-partisan support for an AFL team and I expect that will continue.”

The AFL has offered to put its knowledge behind the state’s formation of a team.

“We expect that to be very significant in terms of the resources the AFL will put in,” Mr Rockliff said.

“That co-investment when it comes to administration, and the high-performance centre is part of that, and the AFL are putting in funding as part of that.”

Rockliff calls for patience after leaked stadium idea

THE Premier has urged Tasmanians to be patient as the timeline for a decision on the state’s AFL bid drags on.

Speaking after the Mercury revealed the AFL’s secret plans for a Perspex-roof stadium at Macquarie Point, Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he was hopeful of striking an agreement in the “not-too-distant future”.

“We’ve been waiting 30 years for this and these conversations have been going on for three decades now,” Mr Rockliff said.

“It’s important that we do due diligence, ensure that we get value for money and ensure that our objective is realised when it comes to the Tasmanian team in the AFL.

“A little bit of time on the end of what has been a three-decade ask is not too much to ask I’m sure.

“It’s not just about the stadium, there’s a huge opportunity to have an arts, entertainment and cultural precinct built around the stadium.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff speaks to the media at Regatta Point in Hobart on Wednesday, September 14, 2022.

“My view is that when ­people realise the vision that we have, the great enabler it will be not only for public transport provision for the northern transit corridor, the expansion of ferries and all those sorts of things public transport enabler, but also an economic and social enabler, as well.”

Mr Rockliff wouldn’t say whether or not the government was considering lifting its financial commitment to a stadium venue able to the $150m already on the table.

The AFL is expected to put the Tasmanian bid to club presidents in the coming days including a proposed stadium is modelled on Dunedin’s 30,000 seat venue known as “The Glasshouse”.

Labor leader Rebecca White said her party remained opposed to the construction of a new stadium in Hobart when the government had other priorities that needed the money and the attention.

“There is not very much support across the Tasmanian community for a $750m stadium when you’ve got so many other pressing issues confronting our state, particularly in the middle of a cost of living crisis,’’ Ms White said.

Secret detail shows AFL want Tassie team

THE AFL has secretly commissioned artist’s impressions of a new multipurpose stadium at the vacant Macquarie Point site based on Dunedin’s covered rugby arena to be home to a future Tasmanian AFL team, but the time-frame for the presidents’ vote on the state’s 19th licence has again blown out.

The league wants MacPoint as the site for Hobart’s state-of-the-art multipurpose stadium for Tasmania’s AFL team because of its easy walking distance from the CBD — closer than the previous site favourite Regatta Point.

Like Dunedin, the MacPoint stadium is proposed to have a Perspex roof to let in maximum light, the same as Wimbledon’s Centre Court.

Inside Forsyth Barr Stadium Picture: Supplied

AFL CEO Gill McLachlan and his team had hoped to deliver Tasmania’s presentation to the 18 club presidents by the end of last week. However, it was revealed on Tuesday that the state government was still working on the final details of the bid, even though the original deadline to have the proposal to the presidents and an answer back was before the end of August.

The Tasmanian AFL Taskforce ­remains in the dark about when the bid document will be presented to the ­presidents.

The AFL clubs are also unsure when they will be able to take a look.

There is hope that it may happen when the presidents gather for the Brownlow Medal count in Melbourne on Sunday, or the following day.

Regardless of when they see it, the presidents will take it back to their clubs for further discussion before they gather again to give their response.

The AFL’s new $4.5 billion broadcast rights deal boosted Tasmania’s bid for the 19th licence with the league having more money in the coffers to allay fears a new team might be a drain on funding.

Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin

On the day it was announced, ­Mr McLachlan revealed the broadcast deal from 2025 to 2031 “contemplates” a Tasmanian team.

He said: “We’re optimistic of reaching some agreement with the Tasmanian government. We will then go to our presidents and their boards and clubs in the coming weeks and there’ll be a process that plays out there.”

The proposed $750m roofed stadium on Hobart’s waterfront is a mainstay of the state’s bid and an enticement for the interstate teams to come to the state and play at a specialist venue.

The consensus is that a guarantee of the bespoke venue was needed to get the presidents’ “yes” vote over the line, whether it was built in time for Tasmania’s AFL debut or would come later.

Dunedin’s fully-covered stadium, known colloquially as “The Glasshouse” because of its resemblance to a horticultural hothouse, was opened in 2011 and has a capacity of 30,000.