Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF –
Since the Tasmanian Planning Commission recommended against building the stadium, you have been pretending they did not consider all the benefits to Tasmanians. Let’s set the record straight. You’re the author of the stadium assessment process. You created the Macquarie Point Development Corporation and chose their CEO and board. You decided to enact the Project of State Significance (POSS) process. Your government chose the TPC panel members. Your chosen panel took all the stadium’s supposed social and economic benefits that the MPDC gave them and assessed them against the $945 million cost they said the stadium would cost to build.
The TPC resoundingly rejected it, saying that the stadium, ‘Represents a fall in the collective economic welfare of Tasmanian residents.’ Despite all that control, you still couldn’t manufacture a process that ended in a recommendation of support for the stadium. Premier, when will you get the message? This would be a very, very bad move for Tasmania.
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for the question. My understanding is the honourable member David O’Byrne created the Macquarie Point Development Corporation.
Mr O’Byrne – Well, parliament did ultimately, but I was the minister, yes.
Mr ROCKLIFF – There you go. Well done. Could I commend the work of Chair Kim Evans and, of course, Anne Beech, as well, for their work. We just have to agree to disagree, honourable member. You have been very strident in your views, as has your team against the stadium –
Mr Bayley – As has the Planning Commission.
Mr ROCKLIFF – You have made it very, very clear. You made it very clear to Tasmanians both in the 2024 election and, particularly, the 2025 election. Where I saw a lot of green triangles that were not about saving the forests or no dams, but about no stadium. That was your focus, and you made very clear to the people of Tasmania that you detest the stadium and will never vote for it; made it very clear. However, the people voted, and you didn’t get any more seats – slight swing towards you, maybe, I’d have to look at the figures – but as the majority of parliamentarians here went to the election on a pro‑stadium agenda, parliament will have its say.
As I have said, I thank the TPC for their work. I was pleased to see that the report said that the stadium is constructible, for the reasons outlined before. I don’t believe, however, that the benefits overlaying the contributions of $240 million from the federal government and $360 million from the AFL, or the social and economic benefits the Tasmania Devils will produce across the state were taken into account. The investment that will come from ensuring that we have the available bed nights for our visitor economy, wasn’t taken into account of the overall economic benefit.
I have a right to disagree with the TPC’s report, they did their work and I thank them very much for that, but ultimately, parliament will have it say. The POSS process wasn’t one that I originally proposed, it was the Major Projects legislation or planning pathway that we chose. We went into minority government, and the POSS became the vehicle. I was worried about timelines, which is why we put forward the enabling legislation. We had an election, so the timelines converged and now we’re back into the POSS process.
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time for answering the question has expired.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Dr WOODRUFF – The Premier talked about the fact that he will build it regardless, and that is his clear decision. Premier, will you stop pretending that there’s something wrong with the Planning Commission’s assessment? They did a thorough assessment and considered every single thing the proponent provided to them. Will you stop pretending and just be honest with Tasmanians that you will build the stadium regardless of the cost or the harms?
The SPEAKER – That supplementary question was quite broad. If the Premier has any further information he wants to add, he may. Your original question was broad as well, so the Premier is allowed a bit of latitude in his response.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Thank you honourable Speaker. As I say, I have every right to disagree. I don’t believe that the Greens have always supported the TPC’s recommendations in your time as well. We are elected members of parliament, we represent constituencies. You’ve represented yours very vigorously, as I have mine, albeit that there has been some discussion about the stadium, et cetera. Every step of the way, though, it’s been about creating economic opportunity and aspiration for Tasmanians, including the AFL deal that required a stadium to bring the team we’ve fought for, for many decades. We want the team to be ongoing and sustainable. This is an investment, not just for the next 5 years, but for the next 50‑plus years.
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time for answering the question has expired.
