Jeremy Rockliff has finally admitted what Tasmanians have always known – this stadium can’t be built for $715 million.
Having landed himself and the state’s finances in a sticky situation, and seeing the public backlash, now he’s trying to pretend the private sector will save the day by paying for the project’s cost blowouts.
What a joke. What kind of investor wants to pour their money down the drain by putting money into a project that’s already over budget and running behind schedule? Especially when the government’s own cost-benefit analysis shows the stadium is an economic loser in terms of returns.
This so-called ‘cap’ is a load of rubbish that’s only purpose is to try and pull the wool over the eyes of voters for a few weeks. Unfortunately for the Premier, Tasmanians aren’t so easily fooled.
Tasmanians know Jeremy Rockliff has spent a year promising the stadium will be built for $715 million, and now he’s admitted this isn’t true. Why would anyone now believe him when he says the taxpayer contribution is going to be capped?
If the Premier can’t somehow swindle an investor to pay for his budget blowout, what will happen to the stadium? Undoubtedly it will be left to Tasmanians to foot the bill for his folly – as we have been all along.
With a new government and the Greens in the balance of power we’ll fight to stop the stadium and invest in the things Tasmania really needs – affordable housing and a health system that works.
