Media release – Meg Webb, independent MLC for Nelson, 6 April 2025
Upper House to Vote on Call for Government to Renegotiate with AFL
The Legislative Council will this week vote on whether the Rockliff Government should seek to reopen negotiations with the AFL over the Macquarie Point stadium project location and construction timeframe in light of concerns raised by both the independent Gruen Report and the Tasmanian Planning Commission Draft Integrated Assessment Report.
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb, who has tabled the motion to be voted upon, said Tuesday’s debate will provide the government an opportunity to stand up for Tasmanians’ best interests.
“Why should 18 non-Tasmanian football bosses dictate the future of Tasmania’s team, iconic Hobart waterfront and financial security,?” Ms Webb said.
“Two state-funded independent reports have raised serious concerns over the impacts upon the state’s finances with stadium construction associated debt estimated to be over $1 billion.
“The construction timeframe has been found to be basically impossible which also presents potential financial penalties to be borne by Tasmanians under the current AFL agreement.”
Ms Webb said a responsible Government and Labor Opposition worthy of the name would both stand up for Tasmania’s best interests and immediately seek to renegotiate with the AFL the location and construction timeframe of any new stadium.
“Tasmanians deserve to be proud of their AFL team, rather than have it forever associated with an expensive white elephant scarring our iconic city waterfront, and responsible for dividing the community and draining our finances.
“The Upper House vote on my motion on Tuesday will provide both the Liberal and Labor parties the opportunity to demonstrate they are not as craven as they appear, but instead do still have the backbone to stare down the 18 interstate football bosses and stand up for Tasmanians’ best interests.”
Debate on Ms Webb’s motion will occur during the Legislative Council Private Members Business on Tuesday, April 8.
Text of Ms Webb’s motion:
That the Legislative Council:-
1) Notes the Independent Review of the Macquarie Point Stadium report by independent assessor Dr Nicholas Gruen, dated 1 January this year and publicly released on the 3 of January;
2) Acknowledges the Gruen Report’s four recommendations and six key findings including the first finding that, “the agreement between the AFL and the Tasmanian Government is overspecified and imposes needless costs and restraints on the realisation of a Tasmanian team. These costs and restraints are contributing significantly to the poor cost-benefit ratio of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium.”
3) Further notes the Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) Draft Integrated Assessment Report of the Macquarie point Multipurpose Stadium Project of State Significance (draft IAR) released on 31 of March this year;
4) Considers the Panel findings presented in the TPC Draft IAR, including:
a) that the costs of the Project are approximately double its estimated benefits;
b) that under its central scenario, construction of the Project would require the State to borrow – or otherwise finance at the same or greater cost – approximately $992 million. At the end of 10 years of operation the additional debt directly associated with the Project’s construction and operation would be approximately $1.86 billion;
c) Construction delays represent a significant risk through potentially higher costs and AFL penalties under the agreement with the State Government. To the extent there are delays, construction costs would be adversely impacted and, potentially, penalties applied;
d) that the construction and operation of the Project would not generate a net economic benefit for Tasmania compared to an alternative public investment of the same financial magnitude;
e) that there is significant potential for a negative impact of the stadium on the existing territorial sense of community for local residents in the surrounding area, due to the significant change to their local area and increased foot and vehicle traffic through the area; and Hobart more broadly due to the significant visual change in the landscape;
f) that there is evidence of a potential positive impact on the sense of community due to the establishment of Tasmanian AFL teams, and that this sense of community would result regardless of the home stadium of these teams;
g) that it is unlikely that any stadium development within Sullivans Cove could comply with the established planning principles for the area, regardless of design details;
h) that the size of the stadium is disproportionate to Hobart’s small scale and would be contrary to Hobart’s visual values which consist of natural topography, established built form, and urban detail and expression;
i) that both the proposed built form and the use of the stadium building would have a significant detrimental effect on the historical cultural heritage and community values of the Cenotaph; and
j) that the limited space around the stadium is a major constraint in developing a genuinely active mixed-use precinct. The spaces around the stadium are constrained, visually disconnected, not easily accessible, overshadowed, and potentially subject to uncomfortable wind conditions.
5) Calls on the Tasmanian government, in order to secure the ongoing future of Tasmania’s AFL team, to seek to reopen negotiations with the AFL regarding the location and construction timeframe of any associated stadium.
