The controversial Macquarie Point Stadium continues to dominate political discussion in Tasmania.
With Parliament sitting this week, MPs continued to respond to the Government’s ‘enabling legislation’ tabled yesterday.
Rebekah Pentland (independent, Bass) is calling on all parties to negotiate.
“It’s been more than two years since the Federal Government committed $240 million to Macquarie Point, it’s the right time to reengage,” she said.
The Greens are concerned that the legislation will effectively become a steamroller for anything the Government wants to do.
“The issues with this bill aren’t just technical process points,” said Greens Leader Rosalie Woodruff. “The government’s bill would massively increase the risk of the stadium project being mismanaged and of budget blowouts. Think the Spirits’ fiasco, but much worse.”
Kristie Johnston (independent, Clark) is calling for the quantity surveyor’s report, used as the basis of the new stadium cost of $945M, to be released for scrutiny to enable a better understanding of the costs.
“The enabling legislation report has nowhere near enough detail for anyone to make a sensible decision on such a huge investment for Tasmania…basic information Tasmanians need to know and expect MPs to know before we vote,” she said.
Craig Garland (independent, Braddon) questioned how the promised housing at Macquarie Point could be delivered, given that the stadium design takes up a huge portion of the site. He believes the Commonwealth contribution of $240M to Macquarie Point Urban Renewal could be at risk if the housing cannot be built.
Their statements are reproduced below.
Media release – independent MHR for Bass, Rebekah Pentland, 28 May 2025
GOVERNMENTS URGED TO COME TOGETHER ON STADIUM
Bass Independent Rebekah Pentland will move a motion in parliament this afternoon, calling on the State Government to reengage with Federal Labor on the Macquarie Point Stadium.
“It’s the perfect time for the key players to take stock of the situation,” Mrs Pentland said.
“We’re calling on the State Government to engage with the AFL, Cricket Australia and the Federal Government.
“It’s been more than two years since the Federal Government committed $240 million to Macquarie Point, it’s the right time to reengage.
“By committing that funding, the Prime Minister fired the starter’s gun on the project. It’s reasonable to expect his government to play a more active role in what’s become a divisive project.
“I believe the two governments owe it to Tasmanians to address the current funding structure and risk to the state budget.
“I remain unconvinced Tasmania can afford this project, but if the Premier is forging ahead, he should at least sit down with the Federal Government.
“The concerns around the stadium’s suitability for cricket also need to be cleared up before parliament votes.
“There are too many unanswered questions. If the key players were to come together, it would send a message to Tasmanians that they’re listening.
“A majority of Tasmanians do not support this project. They deserve to have their legitimate concerns acknowledged.
“The motion I am putting forward is a sensible suggestion at a time of great uncertainty.
“I am highly sceptical of the stadium project as it currently stands, but I pledge to play a constructive role as the debate continues.”
Media release – Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 27 May 2025
Stadium Bill Provides Minister with Unprecedented Powers
The Greens were bracing ourselves for the Rockliff Government’s stadium bill, but even we weren’t prepared for just how shocking the legislation is.
In the Liberals’ attempt to steamroll their way to a stadium whatever the cost, they’ve written a bill that gives wide powers and discretion to the minister and other government figures. It’s an extraordinary new low, even for this government.
These unprecedented ministerial powers mean the stadium legislation isn’t worth the paper its written on. Any conditions on the stadium project made by Parliament would not be binding. The government would have free reign to make changes to the project and the rules and conditions governing it – at any point along the way.
The Liberals are unapologetically happy to completely rewrite the rules in an effort to get the stadium approved. Why shouldn’t be surprised they would also change the rules to get it built. If they didn’t intend to do that, why did they write the legislation this way?
The issues with this bill aren’t just technical process points. The government’s bill would massively increase the risk of the stadium project being mismanaged and of budget blowouts. Think the Spirits’ fiasco, but much worse.
Given the ministerial powers in this legislation, the government may as well have just said “We’re building a stadium, and we’re letting Eric Abetz to do whatever he wants to make that happen.” It’s an appalling abuse of government power, and we’re confident the majority of Tasmanians would agree.
Labor Fails Again to Scrutinise Stadium, 28 May 2025
Labor have again abandoned their job as Opposition to hold the Liberals to account on their ruinous and unnecessary new stadium, voting against a Greens’ motion to establish a Scrutiny Committee in the week before the stadium bill comes to Parliament.
The Liberals’ stadium bill is a cooked up, secretive behemoth, and without doubt the most corrupted legislative process in Tasmania’s history. MPs aren’t planning experts, yet we are being asked to assess and approve a development which the government acknowledges is still only half designed.
The Liberals are doing everything to bypass the independent planning assessment process with this bill, and Labor is supporting them.
Our parliamentary scrutiny motion would have allowed MPs to receive information directly from the mouths of regulators about their proposed planning permit conditions in the stadium bill, and whether the government has adopted them. The Liberals have hidden the details of their stadium proposal from the public at every turn, and there’s a lot of questions about this rushed development that need answering.
It’s the basic duty of an Opposition to scrutinise the government, but Labor have instead given the Liberals unconditional support.
It seems no matter the cost, problems with the project, or corrupted process, Labor are willing to provide the Liberals with a political shield.
While Opposition Leader Dean Winter is running a protection racket for the Liberals, the Greens are once again the real Opposition, giving voice to Tasmanians’ concerns about their dud stadium.
Media release – Kristie Johnston, independent MHA for Clark, 28 May 2025
Call to release quantity surveyor’s report
While the Premier is comfortable delivering stadium cost blowouts he’s unwilling to detail how that money is being spent.
Never-say-never minister for the stadium Eric Abetz yesterday let slip a $170 million blowout was calculated using a “robust assessment” from a quantity surveyor.
Today in Question Time, I asked the Premier would he release that quantity surveyor report as well as well any other updated information on the stadium’s capital costs and operating costs.
The Premier expect MPs to vote on the stadium in just a few weeks.
But the enabling legislation report has nowhere near enough detail for anyone to make a sensible decision on such a huge investment for Tasmania.
Basic information Tasmanians need to know and expect MPs to know before we vote.
I call on the Premier to release by Friday the information received from the quantity surveyor as well as any other updated information on the capital costs and operating costs.
Media release – Craig Garland, independent MHA for Braddon, 28 May 2025
The State Government’s $240 Million Agreement with the Commonwealth to Fund the Billion-Dollar Macquarie Point Development Is at Risk
On 17 May 2024, Minister Duigan, in his capacity as Acting Minister for Sport and Events, signed an agreement with Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, in which the Commonwealth Government committed $240 million towards the Macquarie Point Development. This funding represents a quarter of the current estimated cost of the project, recently updated by the government to $945 million.
As part of the agreement, Minister Duigan committed the Tasmanian Government to the delivery of housing at Macquarie Point—including a portion allocated to affordable, essential worker, or social housing. The agreement requires the Government to deliver a finalised Housing Plan—developed in consultation with the Commonwealth—which outlines how this housing will be delivered at the Macquarie Point site.
With just a month remaining until the deadline for that plan, the Government appears to be preoccupied with satisfying the planning requirements for the stadium component of the development, seemingly neglecting the Housing Plan. This is despite Tasmania facing a deepening housing crisis. A recent report from the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council ranked Tasmania as the second-worst performing jurisdiction in Australia in meeting housing targets under the National Housing Accord.
That’s why today, in question time, I asked Minister Duigan—who signed the agreement on behalf of the Government—to update the House on the status of the Housing Plan. I asked when it will be made public, whether the Government will meet the 30 June deadline, and what will happen to the $240 million if the commitment is not fulfilled.
Minister Duigan appeared perplexed and refused to answer, instead referring the question to Housing Minister Mr Ellis. Minister Ellis referred vaguely to the Fountain Side development, which is not even located at Macquarie Point. He failed to provide any detail on the Housing Plan. This leaves a reasonable assumption that there is no such plan—and likely no space allocated for housing—especially given the Government’s intention to sell off land at Macquarie Point to repay additional debt. That debt is being incurred due to the lack of private sector investment in what is fast becoming a financial white elephant.
I will be writing to Minister Catherine King and the Prime Minister to seek urgent clarification on the status of this agreement. During the recent federal election campaign, the Federal Labor Government went to great lengths to distance itself from this deeply unpopular project. Yet the Tasmanian Government appears to be under the false impression that the Commonwealth’s $240 million is “money in the bank.” That is far from the truth. The first payment of $80 million is due in the coming financial year.
One would think the Premier would be doing everything in his power to satisfy the Commonwealth’s requirements to secure this $240 million—particularly when it involves delivering desperately needed housing for the people of Tasmania, and when the stadium’s projected cost is rapidly approaching the billion-dollar mark.
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