Ms BURNET question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
From the day the Macquarie Point stadium was announced, it seemed the only people who believed it could be built for $715 million were state Liberal politicians. You repeatedly said you would be managing the project within an inch of its life to make sure it was delivered on budget. But now, years before the first sod has been turned, we have already seen a massive $115 million in cost blowouts.
What is even worse is the dud deal you signed with the AFL, making Tasmanian taxpayers responsible for every cent of cost overrun. It is no wonder your own Treasury department identified this as a major expenditure risk.
Even if you somehow secure some private money for this project, nobody is going to sign a blank cheque for all the inevitable future cost blowouts. Will you finally admit this project is a massive own goal that will cost Tasmanians dearly?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for your question. I look forward to many goals being kicked by the Tassie Devils in the new stadium.
Members – Hear, hear.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I am looking forward to the Tassie Devils taking the field at Bellerive Oval and at York Park in 2028. I look forward to our young kids going to those games and fulfilling their aspirations. New heroes – homegrown heroes – that kids will want to emulate and aspire to be.
To the member’s question, $375 million is what the Tasmanian government will be investing into this infrastructure, and we will be doing it once. We invest some $375 million every 42 days in Health, as an example and comparison.
The submission that was released yesterday – a 260‑page summary report supported by nearly 4000 pages of expert advice and reports – is now available for the Tasmanian Planning Commission to assess the project and for the community to see the work that has been done. This is and will be a great project. This is a project that not only will secure our own AFL and AFLW teams that we have been fighting for decades, but will also secure the employment of many thousands of Tasmanian people, not only in relation to the southern‑based infrastructure but also the urban renewal of Macquarie Point. Finally, we have a vision for Macquarie Point that we can pursue and invest in, and create further economic opportunity.
It is not unlike Devonport and the urban renewal project there, which some members of the community fought hard against. Thankfully, with the combination of local, state and federal government of all colours working in partnership, Devonport has been transformed, and will continue to be. That is because we are investing further in sporting stadium infrastructure in Devonport, like we are in Penguin and Dial Range – some $25 million of investment; like we are at York Park- some $130 million of investment both federal and state government.
We are proud of this project. I am proud of the fact that we have given the submission to the Tasmanian Planning Commission and indeed the project of state significance process. This process and pathway was selected by the parliament, which led to the creation of extensive project assessment guidelines informed by consultation.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Ms BURNET – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary.
Ms BURNET – Thank you. I do not think the Premier answered that fully enough when, according to the financial impact report, the general government sector would be required to pay millions of dollars in interest and event attraction funding for Mac Point.
The SPEAKER – I am sorry, I am really not sure how I can rule that in as a question, but you have your comment on the record. I will call the Member for Franklin, unless there was a point of order.
