Media release – Sarah Lovell MLC, Shadow Minister for Education & Early Years, 5 October 2024

Do the Greens still back Liberals’ UTAS legislation?

Labor has been clear that we support the University’s city move. We support the construction of 2,000 new homes and the funding that will unlock for a new $500 million science and technology facility for Hobart.

Jeremy Rockliff and the Liberals have already said they plan to block the whole project.

But the Greens’ position has been totally unclear, despite telling voters at the election they strongly supported stopping the Uni’s move. Do they stand by that position, or are they walking away from it?

We know Helen Burnet is a strong supporter of UTAS moving into the city – in fact she ran for Hobart City Council in 2022 pledging to support the UTAS city move. Just how divided are the Greens on this issue?

Do they stand with the Liberals and the NIMBYs who want to block 2,000 new homes for Tasmanians, thousands of construction jobs and apprenticeships and a $500 million STEM facility? How can they claim to want action on housing if they’re standing against one of the biggest housing projects in Tasmania’s history?

Or will they backflip on their shameful election policy and let Tasmania’s only university move into the 21st century, invest in new education opportunities for Tasmanian students, and deliver nearly 2,000 new homes on land that is currently sitting vacant and unused?

With legislation due to come to Parliament soon, the Greens need to make their stance clear when it comes to the future of UTAS.

Response – Rosalie Woodruff, Tasmanian Greens Leader, 6 October 2024

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“We’re looking at the legislation, and talking to stakeholders – meanwhile the Greens’ position on the UTAS move is clear.
UTAS is Tasmania’s sole university, and needs to be a leader in tertiary education. The people of Hobart overwhelmingly rejected the university’s plans to relocate into the CBD. Instead UTAS must focus on improving educational offerings.
The state government should work to ensure UTAS halts the relocation to the CBD, and commits to keeping the Sandy Bay campus for educational purposes.” Dr Rosalie Woodruff, Leader of the Tasmanian Greens