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.
The letter is available here
