Mr BAYLEY question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
The Tasmanian Planning Commission is requesting your stadium developer to provide additional information so it can assess the project consistent with the POSS guidelines. That was a week ago. The correspondence demonstrates that you have deceived Tasmanians about stadium costs and how much taxpayers will have to fork out. The TPC says:
The state is required to borrow $375 million as its initial contribution and there is a further $145 million to be funded.
The TPC wants to know:
… the cumulative impacts on future deficits and debt service costs of the state borrowing to fund all capital works.
This is information we have questioned you on for months. Will you finally come clean with Tasmanians and admit the stadium will cost hundreds of millions of dollars more than you have proposed?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, the member mentioned the submission, and there is a 260-page summary report supported by about 4000 pages of expert advice and reports, which is publicly available for everyone and the Tasmanian Planning Commission to assess the project and for the community to see the work that has been done. We have worked through the comprehensive integrated assessment guidelines and are confident that we have presented a strong case that demonstrates that the project presents an exciting opportunity for Tasmania.
I am advised that on 19 November this year the Commission wrote to the Macquarie Point Development Corporation requesting additional information to support their assessment of the project.
Mr Bayley – That is right, 12 pages of it.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Fantastic, well done. This is a normal part of the planning process, particularly for a project as large and complex as a multipurpose stadium is, which a number of states have gone through. I have not yet been to see the impact of the Adelaide Oval on that community, which people fought vigorously against, but it has transformed the city, as I understand it. I encourage you to go over there, have a look and put your positive hat on. The negative hat does not suit you. The positive hat does, because you are that type of person, in my view.
This is a normal part of the planning process, particularly for a project that is large and complex. The TPC reflects feedback that has been provided by stakeholders through the POSS process to date. The corporation is working closely with the Commission to consider this request and provide additional information and clarification to support the Commission’s work. Importantly, the assessment process by the commission remains on track, with a draft report due in the first quarter of 2025 and a final report by next September.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Mr BAYLEY – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Mr BAYLEY – The Premier indicated that this is quite normal process. There are 12 pages of additional information here. The TPC explicitly wants to know the cumulative impacts of future deficits and debt servicing costs to the state borrowing to fund capital works. Will the Premier ensure that is tabled in the House so we can understand the full financial implications of those borrowings?
The SPEAKER – It does relate to the original question which was to do with the TPC’s concerns around additional costs, so I will allow it.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I will take advice on it, but I cannot see why not. You are going to ask the questions anyway in budget Estimates and all sorts of things, flapping about.
Mr Bayley – You do not answer them, though.
The SPEAKER – Deputy Leader of the Greens, that is not helpful.
Mr ROCKLIFF – We are more than happy to provide information that supports the case, and Tasmanians will quite rightly ask questions about the stadium costs and associated infrastructure. Might I say that whatever development you have on Macquarie Point, such as the sewerage works and a concrete jungle, but whatever positive development –
Mr Bayley – You did not mind the original plan, Premier.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – The Deputy Leader of the Greens is also warned. Members on my right were just broadly noisy, so they can be quiet.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I would imagine that if you are in government and the Eden Project got up, which is higher than the stadium and would impact on the Cenotaph more than the stadium, I am sure that you would be transparent as well.
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time for answering the question has expired.
