Article
Official Stadium Estimate Blows Out as ‘Enabling Legislation’ Introduced
The Tasmanian Government has tabled its so-called enabling legislation to attempt to ram through the controversial Macquarie Point Stadium.
The move attempts to circumvent the Project of State Significance process, which is currently underway and was approved by both houses of the Tasmanian Parliament, as it appears likely to reject the proposal.
The Government also revealed that the stadium cost has blown out to $945M, including fitout but not not including debt servicing costs and essential enabling infrastructure. The new figure is consistent with the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s calculation of $1.86B for the total project.
Minister for Business Eric Abetz said that the legislation addresses the concerns raised in the TPC’s Draft Integrated Assessment Report.
His statement repeats the lie that: “the Government has always been clear that the balance of funding required would be made up of borrowings by the Macquarie Point Development Corporation.”
The infamous not-a-red-cent-more statement by Premier Jeremy Rockliff made in February last year specified that the “Rockliff Liberal Government will cap Tasmanian Government capital expenditure on the Macquarie Point Stadium at the currently budgeted $375 million – and not one red cent more. Along with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation and Stadiums Tasmania, we will open private-sector investment options for the Macquarie Point Precinct to ensure the Government’s contribution to the project is capped.”
The Greens noted that the Premier “mocked opponents and the Greens when we said the stadium’s starting price would be a billion dollars and that it would be all up from there” yet that price tag is now right on the money.
The Tasmanian Government also announced what appears to be a fairly pointless consultation on the new legislation, given they have already made up their mind.
Senator Tammy Tyrrell (independent, Tasmania) accused the Government of “spear tackling the community.”
“The Bill for the stadium says it prevails over any other existing bill or planning scheme,” she noted. “That means if unforeseen issues pop up, for example, the Liberals can completely disregard the law and push forward.”
She urged Legislative Council members to vote down what will be “another botched infrastructure project.”
Labor did not issue a statement.
We reproduce the referenced statements below.
Media release – Eric Abetz, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, 27 May 2025
Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium legislation consultation begins
Legislation that will enable the Macquarie Point Urban Renewal Project has been released for public consultation.
Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz, released the draft enabling legislation that will provide the appropriate permits for the Government to proceed with the development of the Macquarie Point Precinct vision.
With the Parliament’s approval, the legislation will permit the commencement of a multi-purpose stadium which will deliver thousands of jobs and an unrivalled level of economic activity.
“The Government has reviewed and acknowledged the concerns and challenges raised within the draft Integrated Assessment Report by the Tasmanian Planning Commission,” Minister Abetz said.
“This draft Bill and subsequent planning conditions addresses these points and demonstrate the efforts by the Government to ensure the legislation is comprehensive.
“The enabling legislation and supporting materials are hundreds of pages long, carefully addressing concerns, permits and conditions.
“We are confident that this legislation provides the necessary details for the Parliament to provide their support.”
The permit includes conditions requiring subject and site-specific expert management plans to be finalised and submitted to the relevant regulator for approval before construction or operations can commence, which is standard for large-scale commercial development approval.
The Government has also agreed to the request of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for additional works to soundproof the Federation Concert Hall, noting that it will have benefits well beyond the impacts of the stadium.
“We have been remediating and preparing Macquarie Point for development for over twelve years, and we know this land is the best available CBD site for a stadium,” Minister Abetz said.
“It is time to draw a line in the sand and provide certainty for our own AFL Team and the enabling infrastructure that is critical to make our team a success. The impact the multipurpose stadium will have on our economy, jobs, and investment is simply an opportunity we can’t miss. Now, it’s time we got on with building it.”
As part of the enabling legislation, the Government has also announced revised cost estimates for the project, following a robust assessment by an experienced quantity surveyor.
The total cost of the multi-purpose stadium is estimated to be $945 million, incorporating improvements that will enhance the stadium user experience to better cater for a wide range of planned uses, including helping to facilitate cricket at the venue. It also accounts for detailed items such as audio-visual, communications, kitchen and food and beverage fit-outs.
The Government has always been clear that the balance of funding required would be made up of borrowings by the Macquarie Point Development Corporation.
Consultation material, including the draft Bill, Project Report, draft Permit and Conditions, and the feedback submission portal is at www.tas.gov.au/stadium-
The consultation material can also be viewed in person at:
- Hobart Library, Level 1/91 Murray St, Hobart (during opening hours)
- Launceston Library, 71 Civic Square, Launceston (during opening hours)
- Devonport Library, Paranaple Centre, 137 Rooke Street, Devonport (during opening hours)
- Burnie Library, 30 Alexander Street, Burnie (during opening hours)
Consultation closes Monday 16 June 2025.
Helen Burnet MP, Greens Member for Clark, 27 May 2025
Stadium Costs Blowout
The Liberal Government have finally admitted that the starting cost of the stadium has gone up from $715 to $945 million. It confirms what the Greens have long said – this stadium is going to cost Tasmanians more than a billion dollars.
The Premier promised Tasmanians once upon a time that the stadium wouldn’t cost more than $715 million in total. He said that “not a red cent more” than $375 million of taxpayers money would be spent on this dodgy project.
Jeremy Rockliff said that he personally would make sure the stadium would be delivered on time and on budget. He mocked opponents and the Greens when we said the stadium’s starting price would be a billion dollars and that it would be all up from there.
But now he’s confirmed we were right on the money, announcing a revised starting figure of $945 million. Yet the Premier still won’t admit that he’s broken his promises to Tasmanians not to spend more than $375 million of their money on a stadium.
We all know that the costs aren’t going to stop here. Budgets for projects are being blown out of the water. The AFL high performance centre has gone up by over 60%. The Cradle Cableway price has tripled. The wharf upgrades at Devonport will be five times more than first estimated.
Where will Jeremy Rockliff’s deceit over his stadium vanity project end?
Media release – Senator Tammy Tyrrell, independent Senator for Tasmania, 27 May 2025
Draft stadium bill a spear-tackle to Tasmanians
Senator Tammy Tyrrell, independent Senator for Tasmania, comments on the enabling legislation released today for the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium:
“The Tasmanian Liberals are desperate to bulldoze this project through Parliament no matter the cost. Or who they have to run over to get there. It’s the equivalent of spear-tackling the Tasmanian community.
“The scale of this legislation is gobsmacking. The Bill for the stadium says it prevails over any other existing bill or planning scheme. That means if unforeseen issues pop up, for example, the Liberals can completely disregard the law and push forward.
“The draft report admits that there will be impacts to the Hobart Cenotaph and cultural heritage sites. But it goes on to say that a stadium and a team are more important, so they don’t really care.
“The Liberals have finally come to the realisation the rest of us knew months ago; the stadium will cost about a billion dollars. They’ve also admitted that the stadium itself has never been expected to make money, despite repeated claims about the economic benefits.
“It’s never been clearer: upper house members must vote against this project. We all want a team. But we absolutely can’t allow the Tasmanian Liberals to sink millions of taxpayers dollars into another botched infrastructure project.”
— no statement —
Election promise on Tasmanian Liberals Website – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 15 February 2024
Tasmanian Government expenditure on Macquarie Point multipurpose stadium to be capped
A re-elected majority Rockliff Liberal Government will cap Tasmanian Government capital expenditure on the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium at $375 million.
The Stadium will be a game-changer for Tasmania, generating over $300 million in economic activity, 4,000 jobs during construction, and 950 jobs per year once operational.
And, of course, it is the key to our very own AFL and AFLW teams.
Despite this, I recognise that this project is not everyone’s cup of tea and that some Tasmanians would prefer that this money was spent in different areas.
I also understand that there are concerns in the community that the final cost of the Stadium could significantly increase, leaving Tasmanian taxpayers with a large, unbudgeted bill.
Therefore, I have taken the decision that a re-elected majority Rockliff Liberal Government will cap Tasmanian Government capital expenditure on the Macquarie Point Stadium at the currently budgeted $375 million – and not one red cent more.
Along with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation and Stadiums Tasmania, we will open private-sector investment options for the Macquarie Point Precinct to ensure the Government’s contribution to the project is capped.
I note that in taking this decision, the taxpayer contribution will be capped at exactly the same amount as what is proposed but unproven by the proponents of the so-called Stadium 2.0 concept.
In fact, based on the information provided, there is potential for the Tasmanian taxpayer to wear the entire $2.3 billion cost of 2.0. Meanwhile, the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium will be capped at $375 million by the Tasmanian Government.
The difference is that the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium is well down the formal planning route, is written into the AFL agreement, and doesn’t face the multitude of additional challenges that the 2.0 concept does, including their vast civil and environmental challenge of digging out the cenotaph hill and using it to reclaim the Derwent River for foundations.
What it has shown is that, as we have always said, there will be private sector interest in the Macquarie Point development, and we will explore the best option to secure it.
This decision will ensure that the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium is constructed at a price the Tasmanian Government can afford while also securing our AFL dream.
I look forward to the Labor Party getting off the barbed-wire fence and clearly articulating whether they support the Stadium, or if they will kill it and our AFL dream should they be elected to government on March 23.
Only a majority Liberal Government will deliver our own Tasmanian AFL team.
Tasmanian Times (TT) is a community-based news and current affairs service covering the island state of Tasmania. It exists to provide a diverse view of Tasmanian issues. TT creates and supports independent media content utilising the best of modern technologies and tried-and-true practices of public-interest journalism.
Support us in expanding our coverage and developing new content by and for Tasmanians.
New initiatives on the way include:
- a weekly podcast covering current affairs
- a revamped website
- a monthly cartoon competition
- a user-friendly app for both Android and Apple devices
- a weekly roundup of key stories