Labor Accused of Trying to Shut Down Stadium Scrutiny

Media release – Luke Edmunds MLC, Shadow Minister for Sport & Events, 26 February 2025

Rockliff’s stadium delays casting doubt over AFL license

With doubts over Jeremy Rockliff’s ability to deliver a stadium beginning to cast doubt over Tasmania’s AFL license in national media, Labor is calling on the Premier to commit to the POSS decision coming before the Parliament by 30 June 2025, as per the license agreement.

SEN has reported that there is “growing angst among AFL presidents over the delay of the Macquarie Point Stadium”, which is a “key condition of Tasmania’s bid for the 19th license.”

Most alarmingly, SEN reports that: “The stadium has been delayed to a point where the drastic option of delaying the Devils’ entry to the competition at this stage can’t be ruled out.”

Labor supports a stadium because it will generate desperately needed jobs and secure the AFL and AFLW teams our state deserves.

The biggest risk to the Devils now is Jeremy Rockliff’s Minority Liberal Government’s failure to deliver.

Tasmania can’t afford Jeremy Rockliff to stuff up the stadium like he stuffed up the Spirits. He needs to start providing some confidence he can get this stadium built, and he should start by committing to the POSS decision coming before Parliament by 30 June.

Media release – Ella Haddad MP, Shadow Minister for Health, 26 February 2025

Carpark Kristie can’t have it both ways

Kristie Johnston’s attempt to attack Labor’s support for a stadium while ignoring the fact she could do something about it herself isn’t fooling anyone.

Ms Johnston can’t have it both ways – if she’s propping up Jeremy Rockliff’s minority Liberal Government, she’s propping up his stadium.

If she really wants to make a stand against the project, she should put her money where her mouth is and tear up her confidence and supply agreement that backs in the Liberal government.

Labor has made it clear that we support a stadium because it will deliver desperately needed jobs and secure our AFL and AFLW teams.

We will continue to hold the Premier to account for his commitment that “not a red cent more” than $375 million of taxpayers money will go into the project.

It was telling that Ms Johnston’s first move after the election was to provide confidence and supply to the Liberals and demand getting herself a carpark and more staff.

I would rather see her standing up and securing outcomes for our electorate of Clark, instead of attacking the opposition and looking out for herself.

Media release – Our Place Hobart, 26 February 2025

Our Place Responds to ALP media release

Our Place’s Roland Browne confronts Labor’s call for a June stadium debate in parliament as an attack on democracy.

“Not since the Gunns pulp mill have we seen such an assault on our democratic processes as Labor is now proposing by trying to ram the stadium proposal through parliament before the Planning Commission has finished its work.

“A day after polling showed Labor and Liberal have completely failed to persuade Tasmanians that the stadium is necessary or needed, with 59% opposing it, a panicked Labor Party now seeks to destroy the proper planning process.

If it succeeds, it will mean the Planning Commission will have to do away with public hearings. That will limit the assessment the Planning Commission can undertake and entirely cut out public hearings, stopping the Tasmanian community from responding to a project they clearly don’t want and ensuring Tasmanian voices are not heard.

“If Labor wants to guarantee they lose the critical seat of Braddon at the federal election, this move will deliver it in an electorate where a large proportion oppose the stadium and many are furious at Anthony Albanese gifting, in a reckless breach of all Commonwealth convention, $240 million of GST money to the stadium build.

Mr Browne said that if the Liberal government were to guarantee a vote in June, he can guarantee that there will be direct action when construction starts.

“Here’s my message to the AFL—if you want national headlines about how much Tasmanians hate this bullying deal you have insisted on, you are going to get them.”

Mr Browne said the real failure to deliver is a failure by the state ALP to deliver a credible or effective opposition party.

“Labor should remember 30% more of Tasmania oppose the stadium (59%) than voted for the ALP last election (29%). The real opposition parties and individuals were all present at our public meeting yesterday.”