Media release – Dean Winter MP, Labor Leader, 6 May 2024
Backing in a stadium for jobs
Tasmania’s economy has slowed. 5,000 jobs have been lost since Jeremy Rockliff lost majority government. Building companies are going bust. There are no major infrastructure projects scheduled to come online once the Bridgewater Bridge is finished.
A stadium will mean thousands of jobs in construction, including hundreds of apprenticeships.
That’s why Labor will be backing a new stadium.
Labor’s support doesn’t mean the Premier will be let off the hook for the promises he has made – far from it. He needs to deliver his capped spend of $375m, with private investors to cover any shortfall.
While we will not be standing in the way of the current Macquarie Point stadium proposal, we still hold concerns around the deliverability of the project. The Premier should not rule out the Stadium 2.0 project.
Labor has changed. Under my leadership, the Labor Party stands for safe, secure, well-paid jobs. That means we will support projects with the potential to create thousands of new jobs – including a new stadium.
Vica Bayley MP, Greens Infrastructure spokesperson, 6 May 2024
Labor’s Stunning Stadium Backflip
In a performance worthy of Simone Biles, Labor has completed a stunning backflip and announced they’ll be backing the Liberals’ billion-dollar stadium.
This is a jaw dropping decision, even for the party that reversed their position on poker machines, political donation reform, mandatory minimum sentences, key planning laws, and much more.
The stadium will cost taxpayers a billion dollars plus, is opposed by a vast majority of Tasmanians, and is facing numerous other issues with stakeholders and the Macquarie Point site. But despite all this Labor have said they’ll back the project, no matter the cost.
Not only have Labor decided to back a project that is fundamentally flawed and that will cost Tasmanians more than a billion dollars, they made their new position known in the most cynical way possible. Rather than being honest with the communities voting in Saturday’s Legislative Council elections, they waited until afterwards to show their true colours.
If Dean Winter had made this announcement last week, how many voters would have changed their mind and voted for a candidate that truly opposed the stadium?
Despite Labor’s terrible decision, the stadium is still far from a done deal. The Greens will be fighting hard on behalf of the community to make sure this billion-dollar white elephant is never built.
Media release – Our Place Hobart, 6 May 2024
Winter Announcement
Our Place Hobart has responded to the Tasmanian ALP’s announcement that it has given up on government for the foreseeable future.
Roland Browne said “The fix is in. Dean Winter’s expected back flip on the stadium and his backing of Paul Lennon’s stadium proposal in the same media statement makes very clear that it is not him, but Paul Lennon who is now running the Labor Party.
“By offering in principle support to the idea of a stadium, Mr Winter is seeking to set up the grounds for his party to deliver to Paul Lennon support for his stadium v2 proposal once the Rockliff stadium is found by the Planning Commission or any independent review to be unworkable. It stinks.’
If Mr Winter was serious about Tasmanian jobs – as he claims to be – why not spend that $700 million on health and housing where it is desperately needed, instead of a stadium?
Describing the Lennon stadium proposal as the biggest land grab in recent Tasmanian history, Mr Browne said “Tasmanians who remember the trashing of parliament, democracy and regulatory process that went on during the failed attempt to get up Gunns’ billion-dollar pulp mill in the 2000s will be understandably frightened.”
“Dean Winter is now serving Paul Lennon who has said he wants $700 million of Tasmanian taxpayers’ money as well as all of Macquarie Point and Regatta Point for him and his colleagues to develop for private profit as they see fit. It’s one huge con job.’
“Paul Lennon led Labor to disaster many years ago and he’s about to do the same again. Tasmanians made it clear in the last election they don’t want this stadium and the Labor Party vote will only go further backwards in the next election and pave the way for the cross bench to become the major force in the Tasmanian parliament.”
Describing the new Labor leader as “A Lennon in Winter” prominent stadium opponent Richard Flanagan said, “It is a very dark day for the Tasmanian Labor Party when it is once more reduced to being no more than the political vehicle for Paul Lennon’s personal greed and ambitions. The Tasmanian people do not want this stadium and the Tasmanian people will prevail. ”
Abridged transcript of media conference with Dean Winter, Brisbane St, Hobart, 6 May 2024. Prepared by Adam Holmes (ABC). 
Roderick
May 6, 2024 at 19:55
I had already considered that once Dean Winter became “opposition” leader he would emulate Paul Lennon. Remember Lennon and Liberal Robin Gray in cahoots to try to approve Gunns’ pulp mill? As a former Labor voter (but never again) I would describe this as the ‘Winter of Discontent’.
The hopeless Labor side, alias a slice of bacon with a bit of pig on the side, is destined to be out of government for a very long time. Thanks a lot Winter; your suburban party disgusts me.
Andrew Heard
May 7, 2024 at 07:36
So “the stadium” is purely about short term jobs? When all the treasury modelling shows it’s not economically viable? When there is no social license? When the money could be put to far better use? When there are existing ovals that already host AFL games?
What a divisive folly!
James the Last
May 7, 2024 at 10:48
So Mr Winter offers serious “Discontent”!
You know when politicians start plucking nice round figures like “at about 4,000 jobs” or “5,000 jobs”, that they have not researched the figures, and that they are providing convenient guesses. Good leaders don’t guess – they do the homework!
Many more than 5,000 people are employed with ongoing employment by the Health sector, but many more are needed! It is far more useful to have local builders and apprentices working on Housing around the whole of Tasmania! Let’s not forget that most of the workforce on major projects tends to be FIFO workers from the mainland and overseas. They leave as soon as these projects are finished.
Then of course, there is the lack of vision from the new leader who has no real strategy – only a dumb mantra that is already wearing thin. All ambition – but limited substance!
David William Rowe
May 7, 2024 at 11:00
Wow, Wow and Wow!
The Labor party jumps aimlessly around like Mexican jumping beans while caring nought for the average Tasmanian who will suffer health-wise and education-wise for a few jobs in the short term.
This party is finished. I actually thought Dean Winter would be a fresh start. I was wrong.
Jeremy
May 7, 2024 at 11:49
Finally, some strong, decisive leadership from Labor. No more fence sitting.
Well done, Dean. Now let’s get it built!