Mr BAYLEY question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
In February, your minister signed a ministerial direction that directed the Macquarie Point Development Corporation:
- not to make any formal or informal approach to construction contractors or other market participants in respect of the procurement … of works in respect of the … stadium, unless … approved by the Premier.
The final report of the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s (TPC) Project of State Significance (POSS) process assessment is due by next Wednesday. The likely multibillion-dollar stadium remains unapproved by parliament. Tens of millions of dollars have already been spent on planning for the Macquarie Point stadium. Meanwhile, essential community support like health and housing services remain underfunded. Can you confirm if you have approved any form of approach regarding procurement of construction or materials for the stadium? If so, have any contracts been signed and what costs have you already locked Tasmanians into?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. I will take the matter about the contracts on notice so I can give a more detailed account of your question.
Can I simply say, though, that you have your position on the stadium, which has been consistent. We have ours. We’ve said this is a huge opportunity for Tasmania. We need the new stadium infrastructure to support the team. Without it we’re not giving the AFL and AFLW the best chance. In fact, no stadium and there will be no team. That has been made very, very clear.
There are other opportunities, and we’ve been speaking about traditional industries for the large part of this question time so far, but it is also the events, the hospitality and the tourism industry that will benefit from this stadium infrastructure. More and more I hear people extol the virtues of Optus Oval, the Adelaide Oval and stadium infrastructure across the country. A few years ago when we commenced this journey the stadia economy was some $8 billion, of which Tasmania was not getting a part. In fact, we’re missing out on that but also missing out on conventions and a number of other economic opportunities. I commend Business Events Tasmania for the work they do as well.
We are also mindful of the timelines. This is critical, because you might recall in Queensland there’s going to be an Olympics in 2032 and there has been enabling legislation in Queensland, as I understand it, to ensure that that stadia infrastructure, supporting infrastructure and community infrastructure can proceed. It is a huge opportunity for the state of Queensland.
If we are not mindful of the timelines, the longer this goes on, the higher the stadium costs will be. I look forward to the TPC handing down their report next Wednesday, a week from today. It will be very interesting for you too, I am sure, honourable Mr Bayley, and I look forward to progressing the stadium. I am passionate about it. You are passionate about not seeing it. You cannot agree with the team and not have the stadium; they come hand in hand. It is part of the deal. For decades and decades and decades, we have fought for our own team and were knocked back. Time and time again the AFL slammed the door in our face.
The SPEAKER – The honourable Premier’s time for answering the question has expired.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Mr BAYLEY – A supplementary question, honourable Speaker?
The SPEAKER – The Premier has taken it on notice, so technically a supplementary is not in order.
Mr BAYLEY – I did hear him take the issue of contracts on notice, but my question was whether he could confirm that he had approved any form of approach for procurement of construction or materials, so the question is whether that’s taken on notice as well?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Honourable Speaker, my understanding is the answer to that is no – no procurement because the Budget hasn’t passed. However, again, I will take the question on notice. It is an important juncture. The AFL has slammed the door in Tasmania’s face for decades and it took a deal to get the team across the line, which just so happened to be an opportunity to build the stadium infrastructure on a wasteland that was ripe for development – which no-one has done, either.
It’s a huge opportunity for us. I thank all the people who have worked so hard for this. I will meet a number of them at the Bill Sorell lunch for the late Bill Sorell, a great football identity. I think the lunch is next week. There are so many passionate people who have worked so hard to get where we are now. I’m going to back them 100 per cent along the way.
