Dr WOODRUFF (Franklin – Leader of the Greens) – Honourable Speaker, I seek leave to move a motion without notice for the purpose of moving the suspension of Standing Orders to debate the following motion –
That the House censures Dean Winter MP on the following grounds –
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Since abandoning Labor’s opposition to the stadium after the 2024 election, Mr Winter has consistently said that the stadium’s cost to the state needs to not exceed $375 million and that Labor will scrutinise the stadium in detail and hold the government to account;
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Subsequently, Mr Winter called for the government to fast-track approving the stadium before the state Budget, bypassing current assessment and scrutiny processes.
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Mr Winter has now made it clear that Labor will vote to approve the stadium regardless of the cost to the Tasmanian taxpayers, the impacts on the city and without the credible planning assessment that involves community engagement.
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Mr Winter has betrayed his party’s commitments during the 2024 election, his subsequent commitments to the people of Tasmania, as well as his responsibilities as Leader of the Opposition.
The SPEAKER – Just letting you know, because we did have some confusion last time. The question before us is that the member is seeking leave. In order to initiate a motion for suspension, the member has the call. There is a 35 minute debate available. We have three minutes and 34 seconds.
Dr WOODRUFF (Franklin – Leader of the Greens) – Honourable Speaker, this is urgent because what we heard Labor say yesterday – Labor, under Dean Winter. Josh Willie made the comments:
That we have acknowledged the stadium is necessary and our position is that we support a stadium. How that eventuates is up to the current government. But if they can’t do it then we will
That was in response to a question from a reporter yesterday,
regardless of whether it stacks up financially, 2 April 2025.
Mr Winter himself has said:
Labor’s support does not mean the premier will be let off the hook for the promises he has made, far from it. He needs to deliver his cap spend of $375 million with private investors to cover any shortfall.
Mr Winter has previously said to Tasmanians:
I have said we will continue to hold Jeremy Rockliff to account for delivering this stadium and a local content plan is a key part of that.
What we know now is that Labor has abandoned its duty and promise to scrutinise the government on the stadium. They have given unconditional support to the stadium, their words, ‘unconditional support,’ no matter what the facts or the costs, no matter what the utter subversion of the process will be, that we are looking at, which was foreshadowed by the Premier. A shortcutting of the PoSS process and special legislation that would cut out the community’s voice, no matter the exclusion of Tasmanians’ voices.
The SPEAKER – We are on the seeking of leave.
Dr WOODRUFF – That is why we are here today, because Dean Winter is planning to subvert the process and cut out Tasmanians’ voices. He is planning on working in coalition with the Premier. He is joined at the hip to dishonour his promise to Tasmanians to scrutinise –
The SPEAKER – We are not in the substantive motion. We are in the Seeking of Leave motion.
Dr WOODRUFF – the stadium, and to hold the government to account on the $375 million. Thank you, Speaker. This is absolutely urgent today because it is very clear that Dean Winter has broken numbers of promises. This is the first instance that we have to draw him –
Mr Winter – Which one?
Dr WOODRUFF – Your promises to Tasmania and your commitments under Standing Order 2 for ethical standards, which requires that members make proper use of their office to respect, to represent and serve the community, to conduct themselves in ways that maintain the trust and confidence of the public. Tasmanians can have no confidence in Dean Winter and Jeremy Rockliff. They are the same person. You are acting together against the interests of Tasmania.
The SPEAKER – The member will refer to members of this House by their title or their position. You will direct the commentary through the Chair.
Dr WOODRUFF – The point that we are here for today is that you have made promises to Tasmanians –
Mr Winter – This is bizarre. I actually cannot believe you are this ridiculous. You look ridiculous.
Dr WOODRUFF – Mr Winter has made promises to Tasmanians and he –
Ms BUTLER – Point of order –
The SPEAKER – Members on my left you will have an opportunity, I will hear the point of order.
Ms BUTLER – Speaker, that is so unparliamentary. To refer to the Premier and the Leader of Opposition as the same person is highly unparliamentary.
The SPEAKER – The member for Lyons will resume her seat. If either of those members mentioned wish to take personal offence they may do so. There is not a Standing Order that allows you to do that.
Dr WOODRUFF – We need to have a discussion today about what the Leader of the Opposition, Dean Winter, has been doing in the last couple of days, and how he has utterly abrogated his duty as Leader of the Opposition to the motion.
Time expired.
