Media release – Vica Bayley MP, Greens Planning spokesperson, 24 January 2024

More Liberal Stadium Shonkiness Uncovered

New government documents uncovered by the Tasmanian Greens reveal disturbing details about the Liberals’ shonky approach to the Macquarie Point Stadium. They show the lengths this government will go to ensure this unpopular project goes ahead.

Despite legal requirements to make it publicly available, the Macquarie Point Development Corporation failed to publish their Ministerial Statement of Expectations for more than six months. The new Statement – now published thanks to pressure from the Greens – reveals appalling new details about the stadium process.

Jeremy Rockliff has trumpeted his government’s commitment to building the stadium within its $715 million budget, but comparison of the new Statement of Expectations with past versions show the Liberals removed the long-standing requirement for Mac Point Development Corporation projects to be “appropriately costed and carefully managed”.

This is outrageous, and will raise a red flag with the many Tasmanians already worried about the cost of this unnecessary project.

The Liberals’ new requirements for Mac Point Development Corporation also reveal the shameless way the Liberals are attempting to subvert the assessment process for the stadium. Previously the CEO of MPDC could only be directed by the organisation’s board, but under these new changes the CEO can now be directed by the Minister for State Development – Jeremy Rockliff.

Let’s be clear – this is a deliberate attempt to stack the decks in favour of the stadium being approved. The Mac Point Development Corporation are developing a Precinct Plan that will make up a key part of the stadium’s assessment process. The changes the Liberals have made now mean Premier Jeremy Rockliff will be able to direct the CEO to make sure this Precinct Plan looks exactly the way he wants it, giving the stadium a massive leg up.

With the Rockliff government doing away with any expectation of proper costing and credible management, and inserting itself into the day to day decision making of the Mac Point Development Corporation, it’s clear they will stop at nothing in pursuit of their stadium pipe dream.

Key excerpts from the MPDC Statements of Expectations:

Links for Comparison

2022 version

2023 version