Shane Broad MP, Shadow Treasurer, 25 January 2023
Tall tales on stadium don’t change reality of economic dud
Jeremy Rockliff is continuing to try to hoodwink Tasmanians on his reckless $1 billion Hobart stadium despite his own analysis showing the proposal is a dud.
In an article in The Advocate newspaper today, Mr Rockliff continues to claim the stadium is key to Tasmania’s economy when the reality is the full cost-benefit analysis proves it does not stack up financially or economically.
The analysis shows the total payroll tax returns to the Government from the project and associated economic activity will be just $300,000 per year – barely one per cent of the amount taxpayers will have to fork out just for the interest payments on the stadium debt.
The reality is a new stadium would be a $306 million albatross around the state’s neck, even before taking into account interest repayments on the debt, which we know will be over $400 million.
As the analysis itself says, “the economic costs… outweigh the economic benefits.”
The analysis makes clear that construction costs ($700 million), maintenance costs ($50 million) and interest payments (over $400 million) will dwarf the projected financial returns to the Government of just $115 million over 20 years.
The Premier should be embarrassed by these findings but, instead, he keeps pushing the line that the stadium will be good for the economy.
Mr Rockliff is also treating Tasmanians with contempt by referring to the proposal as the ‘Macquarie Point renewal project’ as if people won’t know he’s talking about his stadium.
Tasmanians deserve honesty and transparency and real action to address the health, housing and cost of living crisis, not a Premier who pretends his dud project will be the answer.
Media release – Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Minister for Sport, 25 January 2023
Footy in Tasmania deserves better
Labor Member for Elwick, Shadow Sports Minister and former local football administrator, Josh Willie said it was soul-destroying to see his beloved Glenorchy Football Club in the situation they’re in and that footy in the state needs a massive shake up.
Glenorchy’s situation is symptomatic of years of chronic under funding of the game in Tasmania and lack of leadership and neglect by the AFL.
Money from the AFL for grass roots football in Tasmania has been woefully inadequate when compared to places such as Western Sydney and Queensland.
We’ve been neglected and ignored and the chickens have come home to roost.
The state government has committed $144 million to underwrite an AFL team, $60 million for a high-performance centre and $460 million for a stadium we don’t need.
What conditions regarding funding for grass roots footy, for an elite Tasmanian men’s and women’s competition and governance for the sport has the state government sought from the AFL for this level of investment?
Footy has been run by the AFL in Tasmania for 25 years and the game has suffered badly over that time.
It’s time Tassie footy is funded and supported properly at the grass roots level and at a higher level so we have a high-quality competition for aspirational players.
Minister for Sport, Nic Street, when he took over the portfolio said he was all about the grassroots.
However, in his short time as Minister, he’s failed to release the Community Sport and Active Recreation Infrastructure Strategy, overseen the collapse of ice sports in Glenorchy and seems more focused on building a waterfront stadium that will divert funding from other grassroots sports.
Where is the Minister is Glenorchy’s hour of need?
At present we’re losing so many talented players to mainland competitions and it’s not good enough, particularly when we want our own AFL Team.
