by Ethan James, The New Daily
McLachlan set to pledge AFL funds to Tasmanian team
The AFL is set to announce $360 million towards a Tasmanian side, on the condition a new stadium in Hobart gets the green light.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan will make the commitment during a tourism and business lunch in Hobart on Thursday.
The pledge includes money towards the stadium proposal, as well as $90m for game development and $30m for talent development, News Corp is reporting.
The funding is reportedly across a 10-year period.
Tasmania’s admission to the national competition is contingent on funding for the proposed $715m stadium project, which is proving increasingly divisive.
The state Liberal government has pledged $375m towards the project at Macquarie Point and is seeking $240m from the federal Labor government.
Read the full story here: https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/afl/2023/02/23/mclachlan-pledge-afl-funds-tasmanian-team/
Media release – Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Minister for Sport, 23 February 2023
Come on Gillon, stop holding us to ransom
The $360 million pledged by the AFL over the next 10 years for our team and footy in the state is a stock standard amount for start-up teams.
An amount of $36 million a year, for the first ten years, especially on the back of a record broadcast deal is what any start up team would expect.
A quick glance at an AFL Annual Report shows that clubs receive millions of dollars in funds from the AFL each year as it is.
In 2021 for example the Gold Coast Suns received $26 million and the Greater Western Sydney Giants $23 million.
There are also standard investments in new markets detailed in AFL annual reports for things such as ground and facilities improvement.
This sort of investment is the least the state deserves after 25 years of neglect, disdain and chronic underfunding by the AFL since they took over the administration of the game here.
The game is on its knees in Tasmania and we need a team now rather than the AFL holding the state to ransom by demanding a brand-new taxpayer funded stadium in return for a team.
No other start up team has been asked to do this.
If the funding amount was anything out of the ordinary the 18 club Presidents would be up in arms and the fact they’re not, shows that the funding amount is nothing out of the ordinary.
Media release – Cassy O’Connor MP, Greens Leader, 23 February 2023
Who does Gill McLachlan think he is?
It takes a special kind of arrogance to rock up to Tasmania for a few hours just to tell locals why they’re wrong about their priorities for their own home.
Ever since the Liberals caved to the AFL’s bullying and promised them a billion-dollar stadium, the Tasmanian community has made clear its overwhelming opposition to this unnecessary project.
This proposal is so on the nose that we’ve already seen hundreds of Tasmanians make submissions to a Parliamentary Inquiry on the issue, resounding opposition recorded in polling and surveys, and state and federal MPs of all political colours speak out against it.
Sensing the fate of the AFL’s expensive pet project is hanging in the balance, Gill McLachlan is now making a last-ditch effort to tip the scales.
The AFL CEO must be desperate. Why else would we be seeing such a blatant attempt to bully the Albanese government into stumping up yet more taxpayer funds for this ridiculous and unnecessary stadium proposal?
Gill, you might think you can hold Tasmania to ransom, but we’ve got news for you – this stadium is never going to happen. Your backroom deals and obvious attempts at manipulation will be no match for the determination of Tasmanians who refuse to be ripped off and told what they need.
We’re sick and tired of being taken for granted by the AFL, and it’s time you starting giving our state – a heartland footy state – the respect we deserve.
Give us a team, and give it to us without the billion-dollar price tag.
