Former premier Peter Gutwein has a dig at federal Liberals over Hobart stadium opposition

Former premier Peter Gutwein has had a crack at the federal Liberals for their opposition to the Hobart stadium proposal.

COVID update with Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Former premier Peter Gutwein has urged his successor, Jeremy Rockliff, to ignore the objections of their federal Liberal counterparts to the proposed Hobart stadium, saying “they haven’t got much right at all in recent years”.

Mr Gutwein, who has been increasingly active on Twitter since his April resignation, took to the social media website on Saturday to issue the cheeky jibe.

It came after a survey commissioned by Labor revealed that an overwhelming majority of Tasmanians opposed the prospective construction of a $750m waterfront stadium at Macquarie Point, now considered a prerequisite for a Tasmanian AFL team.

Former premier Peter Gutwein at Blundstone Arena. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The telephone polling of 2,541 people conducted in early October found 67.3 per cent of respondents were against the plan, with 52 per cent of those asked saying they were strongly opposed.

But Mr Gutwein backed the Premier’s commitment to the project.

“I’m with you [Mr Rockliff] ..the team and the stadium will grow the economy and provide more $ for essential services…and don’t listen to the federal libs…they haven’t got much right at all in recent years!!!” Mr Gutwein wrote.

Together with state Labor and the Greens, Tasmanian federal Liberal MPs Bridget Archer, Gavin Pearce, Wendy Askew, Claire Chandler, and Jonathon Duniam have all voiced their opposition to the stadium.

In response to the survey findings, Mr Rockliff said the project was “a significant economic, jobs and social infrastructure opportunity that I know has been controversial in other states”.

“Once the buildings and construction and the developments come to fruition, of course people then come on board,” he said last week. “I want to ensure that we do all we can to take Tasmanians on the journey.”

‘Crap’: AFL schedule cops blast from Gutwein

FORMER Tasmania premier Peter Gutwein has blasted the state’s AFL schedule for next season as “crap” after the Apple Isle was slated to host games featuring interstate and low-drawing Melbourne clubs.

Hawthorn and North Melbourne will host four matches apiece in Launceston and Hobart respectively, but Gutwein voiced his displeasure at the fixtures when the AFL released its season schedule on Saturday.

Josh Ward of the Hawks is tackled by Aaron Hall of the Kangaroos during the 2022 AFL Round 19 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Hawthorn Hawks at Blundstone Arena on July 23, 2022 in Hobart, Australia. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Gutwein described the fixturing as “crap” via Twitter on Saturday, urging the AFL to “send this lot (Tasmania fixtures) back so they can have another go.”

The Hawks are set to play North Melbourne, Adelaide, West Coast and Western Bulldogs at UTAS Stadium, while the Kangaroos host Port Adelaide, GWS, Melbourne and Gold Coast at Bellerive.

North Melbourne and Hawthorn established new deals with the state government to play four matches per season in Tasmania, after the previous agreement expired at the end of the 2022 season.

Hawthorn have previously reiterated their intention to maintain a footprint in Tasmania, even if the state is granted the AFL’s 19th license.

TASMANIAN AFL GAMES FOR 2023

Round 3 Hawthorn v North Melbourne – Saturday April 1 @ 1:45pm UTAS Stadium

Round 6 Hawthorn v Adelaide – Sunday April 23 @ 1:10pm UTAS Stadium

Round 9 North Melbourne v Port Adelaide – Saturday May 13 @ 2:10pm Blundstone Arena

Round 10 Hawthorn v West Coast – Sunday May 21 @ 1:10pm UTAS Stadium

Round 13 North Melbourne v GWS – Sunday June 11 @ 3:20pm Blundstone Arena

Round 21 North Melbourne v Melbourne – TBC (August 4 – August 6) Blundstone Arena

Round 22 Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs – TBC (August 11 – August 13) UTAS Stadium

Round 24 North Melbourne v Gold Coast – TBC (August 25 – August 27) Blundstone Arena

What do you think of the schedule? Let us know in the comments below