Partial transcript of a chat between Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and ABC Radio’s Chris Rowbottom broadcasting Local Grandstand from North Hobart Oval 1 July 2023.
CHRIS ROWBOTTOM: Do you let’s get down to brass tacks though premier that the stadium debate continues to rage across Tasmania and and today will be used as something of a rallying point, I assume for those that are supportive of the stage, so you’re in a safe space to be set across the next few hours. But you’re in this interesting position where you’ve got the AFL license, but you’re still having to sell every facet of it to the public. How do you think the sales pitch is going?
PREMIER ROCKLIFF: Look, it was going well, very well. And I still believe it is, as challenging as it is, and of course, the last time I was here is when we announced the 19th license with Gil. McLachlan, we had the deputy prime minister here as well, we had some great icons of the game supporting us as well. But most importantly, we had the young kids running out on the field, very enthusiastic about the future of their game in Tasmania. And that’s the key thing. And that’s what I focus on. And I know it’s a controversial time at the moment and the stadium and 19th license are very much intertwined and connected as it needs to be. But look, I believe that momentum is building, yes today is a rallying point.
And I know that people, both for and against the stadium will be enjoying the football today and being respectful to each other’s views, which I would most certainly encourage. But look, yesterday, I was in Launceston and I had a quiet cup of coffee after a media conference, and I was motioned over to a table. And there was a couple of intensive care nurses there. And I thought, here we go is Health Minister, they’re gonna give me and tell me what’s going on with the health system. But you know, one mom said, look, my son has this huge aspiration for playing for Tasmania, he’s a young chap, now thinking of playing in Queensland. And that’s his aspiration, to come back to Tasmania to play footy. In, of course, the map as well. And this, like person was saying, how enthusiastic she was for the stadium, for the team, encouraged me to keep going, remain strong, push forward. and it’s about not about the politics of the day, or members of parliament. It’s actually about the future of the game, and indeed, our kids and their aspiration.
And I can name a whole lot of things with a stadium outside of AFL which would benefit economically, jobs and growth and, you know, in turn funding those essential services, but look, it’s been a challenging few weeks, since the announcement of the 19th license, the stadium debate has been ongoing for some time … but in for a penny in for a pound as I’ve said before, to you, Chris, and you know, this is too big an opportunity to lay down and, and accept defeat. This is a huge opportunity. I believe the momentum is growing for the stadium and economic development opportunity. And we’ll just see how that plays out.
CHRIS ROWBOTTOM: It’s still the screws are being turned and the scrutiny seems to [be] heightened every week almost on this deal because it is a big deal and a big opportunity, and with that comes a big spend of the State’s money.
In terms of I suppose, the Treasury advice, the cabinet advice, the process of the deal? Are you able to look Tasmanian’s squarely in the eye and tell them that this deal with the AFL does have the blessings of Treasury and the State’s bean counters and the money handlers and that it does stack up and it won’t be this millstone around the neck of Tasmanians for generations to come, which is the fear of a decent amount of Tasmanians.
PREMIER ROCKLIFF: Look, we receive a range of advice from across all departments, and we make the best decisions based on that advice. I’m very comfortable with the governance, very happy with the decision making process, and there has been enormous scrutiny when it comes to just how to almost …
.. and look, the scrutiny of course I can’t think of a project or an investment that’s had so much scrutiny. We’ve been very open, honest, transparent about the AFL license and the deal, and the agreement that’s been done, we’ve been very clear that both the AFL and indeed the Tasmanian Government want to set this team up for success. We’re not going to, you know, invest money for the team to fail. And that’s why it’s crucial that we have the stadium that is linked of course to the team, but also those payments annually as well. And when you consider the investment we’re making into, say Hawthorne and North Melbourne, it’s not that too much more that we’re investing annually to support our own team, and the economic value and benefits of all that of some $120 million a year for that $12 million investment, including the capital of course, I believe is a very good deal for for Tasmania.
CHRIS ROWBOTTOM: So some of the opponents would question the, you know, if it’s so great and it stacks up and it’s fantastic and all the advice was received and went through all the proper channels, then maybe why that initial reluctance to release that information and, and get that all on the table to get this thing moving, and, I know, cabinet in confidence has been a reason, of course … but has there been a little bit of recalcitrance there in terms of maybe not being as collaborative as you could have been?
PREMIER ROCKLIFF: Look, I’m prepared to accept any criticism, but we have been as collaborative as we can, and as possible, and been very upfront for many, many months, since, of course, and I remember speaking to you, you know, towards the middle of last year, about the opportunities and the investment we’re making not only in terms of stadium, but also in terms of that annual payment, of course, to support the team as well. And let’s not forget the other side of the equation, you know, this investment we’re making I accept that is a significant investment, it’s much larger than just AFL. But people talk about, you know, the government writing out a cheque to the AFL and all those types of things. But really, the AFL are also writing out a cheque to Tasmania for $360 million, that we’ve received some $305, well, we will receive through commitments from the Federal Government for $305 million. Now, if we hadn’t, if we, you know, not stayed the course and said it was all too hard, then that’s around $660 million, over 10 years that will not be coming to Tasmania, you know, capital investment, and of course, that ongoing investment into grassroots football.
I believe I’ve said to you before, I’m very concerned about the future of the code, if we don’t have our own AFL license, and AFL W teams here in Tasmania, and what it needs is what grassroots football needs, is that aspirational pathway, and that key investment from the AFL to ensure that every young kid, boy or girl, young man or young woman has that aspiration irrespective of where they live around Tasmania, they can see that dream in front of them.
CHRIS ROWBOTTOM: And you’re happy as well with I guess the rigidity around the conditions of the stadium being at Mac Point 23,000 seats has to have a roof all of these sort of in concrete conditions that it must meet and I suppose the lack of wriggle room there.
PREMIER ROCKLIFF: Look? Yes, absolutely. Because that’s what I want. I mean, people say that the AFL have demanded all these things. But of course, this is what the Tasmanian Government wants to invest in as well. I’m not sure how many of your friends but I’ve had three daughters, over the course of the last three days that spent far too much time in front of a computer screen wanting Taylor Swift tickets.
CHRIS ROWBOTTOM: I know all about that. And maybe we get accounted for half of this across the past week.
PREMIER ROCKLIFF: Exactly. So and look. Why wouldn’t someone of Taylor’s brilliance if you like and entertainment ability want? Why wouldn’t they want to come to Tasmania in front of 30,000 people as of course the new stadium of course 23,000 seating capacity, 30,000 standing comfortable concert in one of the most beautiful cities in the world in an iconic location and have an absolute sellouts concerts, now, you know, that’s also the aspiration that I have, you know, Tasmania can do this.
Why should we allow every other state of Australia a chunk of that $8 billion stadium economy, whether that be AFL whether it’d be concerts, entertainment, whatever it might be, and not seize up, not us, Tasmanians, seize that opportunity,
CHRIS ROWBOTTOM: not just the general public that you have to convince on this sort of voting public, you need to convince your political opponents as well, they’re going to play a big part in deciding whether or not this actually happens through the project of State significance process. How do you attack that, I suppose in terms of that balance of realising that you are dealing with political opponents and also the realisation that you do need them on board, if it’s going to get through the lower house and the upper house on two separate occasions where you don’t have the numbers anymore.
PREMIER ROCKLIFF: Well, you reach across the chamber and you try and talk, you know, common sense and gain an understanding. Look, I know, in the heart of hearts, a number of my political opponents would want the 19th license and indeed the stadium infrastructure to happen. The political opportunity at the moment, or opportunism, is too hard to resist, from my point of view, that’s where I see them at this particular point in time. But, you know, I would suggest to put down the poison pen, and start being constructive and don’t lose out on this opportunity. Because this is a huge opportunity, I don’t want to see a 19th license, go to Northern Queensland, or the Northern Territory, for example, before Tasmania gets its turn. And so I know that politics is enticing, for my political opponents, but the risk of lost opportunity will have far greater impact on Tasmania, than the politics of the day over the course of what it will be a relatively short period of time.
CHRIS ROWBOTTOM: You can see though, that they’re asking valid questions around, you know, the cost and the spend and the deal and what it might mean, and, you know, the site itself, will it fit, can you do everything else that you’re planning to do at Macquarie Point that they’re asking, the mostly valid questions on this.
PREMIER ROCKLIFF: They are perfectly valid questions of which we’ve got good answers for and, you know, I wouldn’t be building a stadium that won’t fit, first and foremost, so (chuckle) we’ve done all those, that due diligence as well, we believe it is the right place in the right location, Chris, because that’s what builds the economy and will bring that investment. I mean, just imagine, you know, your knock off from work at you know, five, whatever it might be, and literally within five or six minutes walk, or you come down from the Northwest, your hotel, the CBD, or wherever it might be, and literally can walk to world class entertainment, and the highest, you know, brilliant competition in the nation in terms of the AFL. And so, these are the opportunities around location, you know, people say you should build a stadium you know, out in the sticks or whatever it might be, well, no, you need to create an economy around the stadium like they do in Adelaide Oval and other examples as well. Queensland of course, Optus oval in Perth, these other states … there was vigorous opposition to stadia infrastructure and upgrades, Adelaide overall a case in point and I, you know, you’re you interviewed John Olsen recently, and that was a powerful interview, because the politics will play there as well. Great resistance. And for what we are investing, I believe it’d be fantastic for our young kids, fantastic for our economy, you know, this morning came down from the north, drove past the Bridgewater bridge, you know, it’s bouncing out of the ground, fantastic … $700 million, and more is being spent there. That’ll be finished in 2025, we’ll need another big project in Tasmania to carry all that workforce through to keep those jobs going, and that money circulating around our community and that funds, those essential services we all care about,
CHRIS ROWBOTTOM: you mentioned that the stadium sort of fitting on the site and, you know, the, the physical structure itself, we saw some, some mock ups released by a group a couple of weeks ago, you know, illustrating potentially the size and scale of the stadium. Two part question, firstly, what did you make of those images? And secondly, your response, I guess, to the people that put those out and defend them saying, well, these are the specifications that the government has put out, we’re just simply plugging your specifications into the computer, and this is what it’s spitting out. So, do you accept that that is a fair representation of the size and scale of the of the study?
PREMIER ROCKLIFF: I thought that imagery was ludicrous, frankly, Chris, and every reasonable person would feel the same.
But there’s an opportunity here to in the design process, the community input process to consultation, for Tasmanians to be involved and for the stadium not just to be you know, the normal run of the mill stadium, but something truly iconic in its design that reflects Tasmania and Tasmanians.
And indeed, our very strong brand, and you know, can be well made out of materials such as homegrown, renewable wood and all those sorts of things which I know the industry have called for a combination of a number of course, of inputs around Tasmanian input of course, and the design is crucial to that,
I accept that, as is the stakeholder input as well and working with people and organisations such as the RSL, which are a key stakeholder in this. And my vision would be that the stadia infrastructure can actually enhance the Cenotaph as an example and actually, you know, build on what is iconic location, but also support veterans, as well.
CHRIS ROWBOTTOM: Premier you’ve been generous with your time this morning we really appreciate you coming on having a chat.
Featured image above: AI-generated image created using Midjourney courtesy of Blake Janssen.
Editor’s note: In the end, the match was a massive flop for the pro-stadium lobby who could only muster just over seven thousand spectators. Reported attendance was 7,189 – less than a third of the proposed capacity of the Macquarie Point moneyflusher – including many children under 16 admitted for free, and the rest adults paying well under AFL prices for their tickets. The weather was fine and sunny, and there were no other competing major events to draw spectators away; local football leagues were suspended on the weekend. The petition NO – AFL Stadium in Hobart – Wrong Priority meanwhile has garnered over 30 thousand signatures.
