21 representatives from Australian and Tasmanian Parliaments plus local government have writted to the AFL seeking to renegotiate the controversial Macquarie Point stadium deal.
An initiative of Vica Bayley MHA (Greens, Clark), the letter invites the peak Australian rules body to meet with a delegation of the signatories to discuss the issue.
It is not clear if any Liberal or Labor parliamentarians were invited to sign the letter.
“With this letter we are collaborating with a diverse group of elected representatives, and putting the problems of the new Hobart stadium clearly to the AFL,” stated Bayley. “It’s time for the league to recognise that Tasmanians don’t want, don’t need and can’t afford a new stadium and to stop treating Tasmania so unfairly.”
Northern crossbencherss Rebekah Pentland (independent, Bass) and Miriam Beswick (independent, Braddon) were to add their names to the letter saying the group represents the “hundreds of thousands of Tasmanians who are sceptical over the stadium.”
“Polling has consistently shown a majority of Tasmanians do not support the current stadium proposal,” said Pentland. “That’s reason enough for the AFL to sit down with the MPs who represent those voters.”
“The uncertainty caused by Labor’s no-confidence motion means now is the perfect time for the AFL to reengage with Tasmania,” added Beswick. “The Devils have enormous support across the state, but we need to find a less divisive way forward.”
“Both Labor and Liberal have failed the leadership test when it comes to standing up for the Tasmanian community’s best interests over the divisive Macquarie Point stadium travesty,” declared Meg Webb MLC (independent, Nelson).
Webb argues there is a case for renegotiation “for the sake of the team, to heal the division in our community and to protect the state’s finances now and for future generations.”
The letter to the AFL is reproduced below along with the statements issued today by signatories.
Media release – Vica Bayley MP, Greens Treasury spokesperson, 9 June 2025
Elected Reps Call for AFL Meeting
With the Macquarie Point stadium a key feature in the crisis engulfing Tasmanian politics, today 21 elected representatives from federal, state, and local government have written to AFL CEO Andrew Dillon to request a meeting to discuss the Devils’ licence requirement for a stadium.
Despite the strong opposition from a majority of Tasmanians, and all the huge problems with the project, Liberal and Labor politicians are continuing to back a new Hobart stadium no matter the cost. But just because the major parties are in lock step on the stadium, doesn’t mean they’re going to win. Momentum against the project continues to grow, with more elected representatives than ever now joining the Greens in the fight against the stadium
This letter to the AFL CEO is signed by representatives of all levels of government and both houses of in each of the State and Federal Parliaments. It’s signed by people from southern, northern, and north-western Tasmania. It represents the overwhelming desire in the state for the AFL to give us the team we well and truly deserve – without having to bear the huge financial damage that will come with building a stadium.
While Labor and Liberal politicians are apparently set on taking the state to an election three years early, the Greens are getting on with the job of representing the Tasmanian community. With this letter we are collaborating with a diverse group of elected representatives, and putting the problems of the new Hobart stadium clearly to the AFL.
It’s time for the league to recognise that Tasmanians don’t want, don’t need and can’t afford a new stadium and to stop treating Tasmania so unfairly.
This letter is a clear call for the AFL to come to the table to renegotiate the Devils’ licence agreement.
Media relesase – Miriam Beswick, independent MHA for Braddon; Rebekah Pentland, independent MHA for Bass, 9 June 2025
TIME FOR THE AFL TO LISTEN TO TASMANIANS
Northern independents Rebekah Pentland and Miriam Beswick have added their names to a letter to the AFL, encouraging CEO Andrew Dillon to meet with Tasmanian MPs.
“The group represents the hundreds of thousands of Tasmanians who are sceptical over the stadium and believe the state deserves a fair hearing from the AFL,” Mrs Pentland said.
“The AFL’s stubbornness over the stadium has contributed to the political crisis Tasmania finds itself in.
“We’ve been calling on the key players to come together to find a sensible way forward.
“The Federal Government can also play a constructive role when it comes to finding an outcome that Tasmanians are more comfortable with.
“Polling has consistently shown a majority of Tasmanians do not support the current stadium proposal. That’s reason enough for the AFL to sit down with the MPs who represent those voters.”
Braddon independent Miriam Beswick said the contingent of State and Federal politicians is too big to ignore.
“It’s time the AFL recognised the level of unease with the stadium project,” Mrs Beswick said.
“We must work towards a solution that Tasmanians can get behind.
“The uncertainty caused by Labor’s no-confidence motion means now is the perfect time for the AFL to reengage with Tasmania.
“The Devils have enormous support across the state, but we need to find a less divisive way forward.
“That’s only going to happen if the AFL is willing to genuinely engage.”
Media release – Meg Webb, independent MLC for Nelson, 9 June 2025
AFL Should Heed Call from State, Federal and Local Elected Reps
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today urged the AFL to heed calls from state representatives to consider renegotiating the contentious Macquarie Point stadium to secure the future of the Tasmanian Devils men’s and women’s football teams.
Ms Webb is a signatory to a letter sent today to AFL CEO Andrew Dillon by 21 Tasmanian elected representatives from the State and Federal parliaments as well as Local Government.
“I have long been on the record calling for the AFL deal to be renegotiated in order to save the Tasmanian team,” Ms Webb said.
“By signing up to this letter, I am signing up to putting the case to Mr Dillon and the AFL why Tasmanians should get the team we deserve, but not at any cost imposed by the AFL, and certainly not at the ruinous cost we know the controversial Macquarie Point stadium to be.”
Ms Webb said in other areas of personal and professional life it is considered sensible and a sign of strength to be prepared to come to the table and negotiate to find solutions.
“I would hope the AFL is as committed to a Tasmanian team as are the signatories to this letter and Mr Dillon is at least prepared to meet with a delegation wishing to represent the views of the ordinary Tasmanians who the AFL has not heard from.
“We know where there is a political will there can be an alternative way. We saw that with the renegotiated win-win which saw the High Performance facility moved from the unpopular Rosny Park AFL-preferred site to Kingston.
“Both Labor and Liberal have failed the leadership test when it comes to standing up for the Tasmanian community’s best interests over the divisive Macquarie Point stadium travesty.
“That failure is why the 21 signatories to this letter consider we have a responsibility to at least attempt to put to the AFL bosses ourselves the case for renegotiation for the sake of the team, to heal the division in our community and to protect the state’s finances now and for future generations.”
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