Approximately 6000 people rallied on Parliament House lawns on May 10 to oppose the Liberal government’s plans to proceed with a new AFL stadium at Macquarie Point, an almost 10 hectare parcel of publicly owned land on Hobart’s waterfront.
The stadium is a condition of Tasmania’s AFL licence which is currently being assessed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission as a project of state significance. But Premier Jeremy Rockliff just announced it will abandon that process and instead attempt to get the stadium built through .
Critics say the costs are underestimated and benefits overstated. Tasmanian Greens MLC Cassy O'Connor said anger had increased since Rockliff announced a new debt-funded model meaning that the promise not to spend more than $375 million had been broken.
“The strong message from today’s rally is that, overwhelmingly, Tasmanians want to keep the team we’ve earned and deserve, but they reject a multi-billion dollar stadium and its drain on the public purse for generations,” Speakers included Senator Jacqui Lambie MP, Kristie Johnson (Independent for Clark), Andrew Wilkie (Clarke MP), Craig Garland (Independent Member for Braddon), Roland Brown (master of ceremonies), Meg Webb (Independent member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council) and author Richard Flanagan.
Labor was criticised for supporting the Liberals new funding bill, despite not having seen it and while saying its support was not unconditional.
Opponents of the project say the millions should be spent on housing, health care and education.
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