Media release – Eric Abetz, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, 31 March 2025

We’re committed to the Mac Point Stadium

The Tasmanian Government has received the draft Integrated Assessment Report from the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, said the Macquarie Point Development Corporation will now work through the issues the report raises.

“The report does appear to underplay the immense benefits of the stadium and the precinct it will unlock, including the key outcome of securing our own AFL/AFLW team,” Minister Abetz said.

“The report has also raised broad issues and taken a wide scope of the project, and we are concerned about the potential of any delays to an already tight timeline.

“We have been clear, that if we are to meet the existing timeframes set out in the agreement, we cannot afford any delays.

“Ultimately, the decision on whether the project will proceed will be made by Parliament.

“The Tasmanian Government will continue working towards the timelines for the development as we seek to revitalise Macquarie Point.

“We are 100 per cent focussed on delivering this game-changing precinct, which will create thousands of jobs and economic activity for decades to come.”

Read the assessment here: https://www.planning.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/803825/Macquarie-Point-Multipurpose-Stadium-Draft-Integrated-Assessment-Report-31-March-2025.PDF

Media release – Vica Bayley MP, Greens Treasury spokesperson, 31 March 2025

Rockliff Must Ditch Stadium After Scathing TPC Report

Jeremy Rockliff should finally abandon his deeply misguided plan for a stadium at Macquarie Point, following the release of a scathing report by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

This report completely undermines the government’s pathetic attempts to market the stadium as a good thing for the state. It shows it’s a complete economic loser, costing well over a billion dollars, adding massively to the state’s debt, and putting our credit rating at risk.

We have known all along the stadium would result in a huge hit to the state’s finances, and this report lays that out in stark detail. Not only that it finds a litany of other major issues – many of which are insurmountable.

Along with the massive cost to the economy, the Planning Commission has highlighted huge problems with traffic, pedestrian movement, negative impacts on the Cenotaph, Aboriginal and built heritage, flooding, inconsistency with the government’s own precinct plan and even the ability to safely evacuate crowds in an emergency. The list goes on and on… and on.

While the government does now have time to respond to this draft report, many of the significant issues it highlights are unavoidable and cannot be fixed. The only sensible thing to do is to ditch the project all together.

We know Jeremy Rockliff has staked his reputation on delivering this project, but surely even he can now see what a dud his stadium will be. The Premier should finally admit his major mistake and start a process to negotiate a deal with the AFL that doesn’t include the stadium.

Media release – Luke Edmunds MLC, Shadow Minister for Sport & Events, 31 March 2025

Premier’s pet project is hanging by a thread

The Devils are firing on all cylinders – except for anything that involves Jeremy Rockliff.

His incompetence is putting Tasmania’s AFL teams at risk.

The Premier has staked his leadership on delivering the stadium for $375 million, “and not a red cent more”.

He has made that promise more than 100 times, including in the Parliament.

Jeremy Rockliff can’t afford to stuff this up like he stuffed up the Spirits, and Tasmania can’t afford him to either.

Media release – Our Place – Hobart, 31 March 2025

OUR PLACE HOBART CALLS FOR PREMIER TO RESIGN FOLLOWING RELEASE OF DRAFT PLANNING ASSESSMENT

Our Place – Hobart has called on Premier Rockliff to resign following the release of the draft assessment by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

Roland Browne said:

The draft assessment is a shocking indictment of the Premier’s stadium proposal at Macquarie Point in terms of costs, economic impact and heritage impact.

Tasmania cannot afford $1.86 billion of debt after 10 years that the report finds it will cost. It cannot afford the damage to Hobart’s tourism economy and its status as a small city in a big landscape that the report details.

The government must pull this project from the Planning Commission now and save Tasmanian taxpayers the $60 million allocated for consultants and put an end to the division the project has generated.

The government must start work tomorrow on getting AFLW/AFL teams up in Tasmania on terms that will not bankrupt the economy and will not require a new stadium. It’s time for Plan B and that’s using the stadia we have. We need a new premier with determination and character who can save the team. Jeremy Rockliff will only doom the teams if he is allowed to persist in this impossible folly of a stadium Tasmania can clearly not afford.

Media release – Tammy Tyrrell, independent Senator for Tasmania, 1 April 2025

MAC POINT STADIUM A FANTASY WE CAN’T AFFORD

Senator Tammy Tyrrell, Independent Senator for Tasmania, says the Tasmanian Planning Commission draft report on the Macquarie Point Stadium has shown once again that the stadium is a fantasy Tassie can’t afford.

“How can any Tassie MP/MLC support the Mac Point stadium after reading the Tas Planning Commission report?

“Tassie deserves an AFL team of our own. But not at the cost of a billion dollar stadium.

“We’ve always known this project would blow out to over a billion dollars. Anyone who says otherwise has had their head under the covers for too long. The report made it clear that Tassie can’t afford this stadium. We’ll only get back 50cents for every dollar we put into this project.

“It’s salt in the wound to every single family that joins the back of the 5000-strong housing waitlist. The Tasmanian Liberal Government will send the state into debt for a roof over an AFL stadium, instead of investing in houses to put roofs over people’s heads.

“It’s time for the Tassie Liberals to walk away from the stadium.”

Media release – Andrew Jenner, JLN MHA for Lyons, 1 April 2025

— untitled —

Mr Jenner has today questioned the government over its reaction to the Tasmanian Planning Commission panel’s damning report into the Macquarie Point Stadium.

Mr Jenner asked “Premier, yesterday afternoon we received yet another damning report from the Tasmanian Planning cCommission panel against the stadium. As you well know, this report follows a long line of others saying essentially the same thing – the stadium does not stack up. You and your government are going to send the state broke if you continue down this line. Tasmania deserves a team, but we don’t deserve to go broke.

As my boss said “you’re already in a hole, why keep digging? Tell the AFL where to stick their stadium”. We already have one of the best stadiums in the country in Launceston. Can you finally admit that this stadium will be Tasmania’s white elephant project?

Media release – Rebekah Pentland, independent MHA for Bass, 1 April 2025

REASSURANCES NEEDED IN LIGHT OF STADIUM UNCERTAINTY

Bass independent Rebekah Pentland is urging the State Government and the AFL to make assurances about the future of the Tasmanian Devils, regardless of the status of the stadium.

“The latest report from the Tasmanian Planning Commission is a reminder of how challenging the stadium project is,” Mrs Pentland said.

“Those challenges should not put the future of the Tasmanian Devils at risk.

“I have argued all along that the team’s entry into the league should not be contingent on a Macquarie Point stadium.

“Tasmanian footy fans deserve to hear that our team is safe, regardless of the challenges associated with the stadium.

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect a level of compromise from the AFL given the magnitude of the project.

“The TPC report confirms the stadium would make the state’s already concerning debt situation even worse.

“I’d urge the Premier to meet with the AFL to discuss ways of reducing the risk to Tasmanian taxpayers.

“The report also confirms how challenging it will be to meet the timelines contained in the deal. I firmly believe the club’s future should not be dictated by those timelines.

“I understand the AFL’s reluctance to run commentary on Tasmanian politics, but the reality of the situation can’t be ignored.

“I would urge the Government and the league to be as transparent as possible and offer Tasmanians assurances about the future of our teams.”

Media release – Miriam Beswick, independent MHA for Braddon, 1 April 2025

MOBILITY ISSUES OVERLOOKED IN STADIUM PLANNING

The Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium Integrated Assessment has highlighted massive challenges when it comes to transport and accessibility.

Braddon Independent Miriam Beswick says it’s disappointing the needs of Tasmanians with disability and mobility issues haven’t been adequately addressed.

“The report makes it clear that the current plans will not support the needs of Tasmanians living with disability and mobility issues,” Mrs Beswick said.

“I understand there’s still time to address these challenges but it’s disappointing they appear to have been overlooked to this point.

“Too often the requirements of people living with disability are not properly addressed.

“Tasmanians with a disability shouldn’t have to constantly fight for basic access to built infrastructure.

“I remain highly sceptical about the merits of a stadium at Macquarie Point, but if it’s going to be built it must not discriminate against people with mobility challenges.

“We all must do better when it comes to making our community more equitable.”

Media release – Nick McKim, Greens Senator for Tasmania, 1 April, 2025

Macquarie Point stadium

Anthony Albanese should redirect federal funding for the Macquarie Point stadium into building homes for Tasmanians, while Premier Jeremy Rockliff has created his own pulp mill moment, the Greens say.

Comments attributable to Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim:

“Thanks to the independent Planning Commission the truth is now out – the stadium does not stack up at any level. Its costs have been understated and its benefits have been massively exaggerated.”

“Page after page of the report reveals insurmountable obstacles. The stadium is a dog and any rational government would walk away from it.”

“This is a folly of the Labor and Liberal parties and both should come to their senses.”

“Anthony Albanese should redirect his party’s $240 million commitment for the stadium into building desperately needed homes for Tasmanians.”

“Tasmanians need a roof over their heads, not a roofed stadium that will wreck Tasmania’s economy.”

Comments attributable to Helen Burnet MP, Tasmanian Greens Planning spokesperson:

“In question time today, the Premier refused to rule out special enabling legislation to build his unwanted, unneeded stadium.”

“This is Jeremy Rockliff’s pulp mill moment.”

“In other words, he is prepared to bypass all conventions of a democratic system while sending the state’s finances to the wall.”

“The Greens are no fans of the Project of State Significance (POSS) process. It’s designed for developers to bypass due process. Creating enabling legislation, however, is an admission the stadium doesn’t stand up to any level of scrutiny.

“The Premier is running out of options to get this dud deal for Tasmania over the line. Will he change the rules to get the stadium over the line?”

“Jeremy Rockliff has thumbed his nose at the majority of Tasmanians that can see what he can’t – the Macquarie Point stadium doesn’t stack up.”

“Will Labor fold to the Premier and the AFL’s will?”