Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has formally unveiled $240 million in federal funding for a new stadium in Hobart, paving the way for a long-awaited Tasmanian AFL team, despite opponents calling the investment unfathomable amid a housing crisis in the state.
In a widely anticipated move after reports during the week, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff joined the prime minister at a press conference in Hobart on Saturday morning to unveil a federal commitment towards the Macquarie Point urban renewal project, which includes a $715 million stadium, in the upcoming May budget.
An artist’s impression of the new sporting stadium to be built in Hobart.
During the press conference, a protester could be heard heckling the prime minister in the background, calling for housing to be prioritised over the stadium.
“This is a revitalisation project that will transform this city,” Albanese said on Saturday. “[It] will produce ongoing jobs in tourism, in hospitality, as well as lifting up the sights of young Tasmanians who aspire to play for Tasmania in the Australian Football League.”
The prime minister compared the project to Docklands in Melbourne and Barangaroo in Sydney, telling reporters 4200 jobs would be created during the precinct’s construction and emphasising housing would be a major focus of plan.
“This sets up Macquarie Point as the future jewel in the crown for Hobart. A place where people can live, work and come together,” Albanese said.
However, Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie said the federal and state funding commitments were “simply unfathomable” while the state grappled with the least affordable rental market in the country and 4500 on the social housing waitlist.
“More than a billion dollars, and that’s what the stadium will end up costing, for an AFL stadium in sight of another one, with just 3,000 more seats and likely no roof, is beyond bizarre,” Wilkie said in a statement.
“This is a failure of governance on an eye-watering scale.”
The AFL has made a 19th team license for Tasmania contingent on a new stadium, for which it will provide $15 million funding. Club presidents are now expected to back the league’s proposed Tasmanian license in a formal vote next week.
Outgoing AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan welcomed the prime minister’s announcement in a statement, thanking him for “realising the vision for the Mac Point precinct and all the economic activity the urban redevelopment will bring to the state”.
“For a club to compete and succeed on the national stage, it needs a home that enables and empowers it to compete from the start, on and off the field, and today’s announcement gives a potential Tasmanian club that opportunity,” McLachlan said.
The Tasmanian Liberal government is a strong supporter of the project and has allocated $375 million towards it, but there has been some local opposition.
The state Greens withdrew their support for a Tasmanian AFL team last weekend due to the league’s insistence that a licence would not be granted unless a stadium was built.
The state ALP has also argued that a stadium was not essential for the AFL to admit a Tasmanian team, but Labor has maintained support for a team in the state.
McLachlan also defended taxpayer funds being spent on the stadium on Melbourne radio station 3AW during the week.
“It’s got nothing to do with us … then we bring games and content and tourism, so it’s a community-owned asset that actually brings economic stimulus, jobs, and frankly, pride that changes the whole state,” he said.
Tasmanian-born AFL legend Matthew Richardson tweeted it was “a great day for Tasmania” after the announcement.
More to come.
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