We are now a full week into the election campaign, and Labor’s position on the stadium is still missing in action.
On Monday Labor even refused to commit to sharing their position with Tasmanians before they vote. It’s an approach that’s as insulting to the community as it is baffling.
Dean Winter has talked up the critical importance of infrastructure delivery in this campaign, while simultaneously refusing to answer basic questions about how he plans to progress the biggest infrastructure project in the state’s industry. It’s absurd.
There are three main questions Labor have to answer.
Firstly, are they committed to special fast-track legislation, or will they allow the existing planning process to take its course?
Secondly, how do they plan to fund the project? After all, Labor heavily criticised Jeremy Rockliff for breaking his promise to cap the stadium cost at $375 million, and pointed to hundreds of millions of dollars in borrowings as being extra costs to the taxpayer. And they’ve railed against the state’s ballooning debt while supporting a project that would add $2 billion to the balance sheet.
And finally, what exactly is their position on the so-called Stadium 2.0? Dean Winter has openly said this option should be on the table, but he’s never explained what it would take to change tack altogether. Given his recent evasiveness, it sure looks like he is laying the groundwork to pivot his party into full-throated support for this project.
Whether you’re supportive of the stadium, unsure, or opposed, everyone deserves to hear what Labor’s answers are to these basic and fundamental questions before they vote.
Trying to duck for cover for this entire campaign on the biggest issue of the election most would be nothing short of shameful.
