Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you, Madam Chair. With respect, the stadium is relevant to this output, and I’m going to ask questions about the stadium. Premier, who owns the Macquarie Point Development Corporation and Stadiums Tasmania?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Anne?
Ms BEACH – Through you, premier. So we’re a statutory authority of a public non‑financial corporation, and I report through to the minister for Sport and Events.
Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you, Ms Beach. So we can agree, can’t we, premier, that the people of Tasmania, the Crown owns Macquarie Point Development Corporation and Stadiums Tasmania, which means that the $145 million cost overrun that your own consultants expert Macquarie Point Development Corporation to carry as debt which will be transferred to Stadiums Tasmania, that is debt that will be carried by the people of Tasmania, isn’t it?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Ms O’Connor, I think you’re splitting hairs here.
Ms O’CONNOR – No.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I think you’re trying to muddy the waters really –
Ms O’CONNOR – No, I’m trying to get some clarity on it.
Mr ROCKLIFF – When it comes to the capital investment that we’re making on the stadium, which is $375 million. I say it every five seconds when you try and ask me these questions.
Ms O’CONNOR – That doesn’t make it true.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Well, it is true.
Ms O’CONNOR – That’s how propaganda works.
Mr ROCKLIFF – It’s not propaganda, it’s –
Ms O’CONNOR – We’ve had repetition, repetition, repetition.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I repeat again, in a very calm, measured manner, that this is a controversial project. I accept that. It has been heavily scrutinised, it will continue to be heavily scrutinised. We’re in the planning system, as we are now, with a project of state significance. That legislation had to be taken through both houses of parliament last year, come back to parliament again as we committed to. So there are many opportunities for parliamentary oversight when it comes to this project. But the Planning Commission now is –
Ms O’CONNOR – This is propaganda you’re not answering the question.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I am answering the question. I keep –
Ms O’CONNOR – Well, you’re accusing me of splitting hairs over a fact. The fact is the people of Tasmania own Macquarie Point Development Corporation and Stadiums Tasmania and they will carry –
Mr ROCKLIFF – Yes, but they own DSIP as well and the Department of Health.
Ms O’CONNOR – Therefore, you’ve said the state’s contribution will be $375 million. But there is also this extra $145 million at least which will be loaded on to Mac Point Development Corporation as debt. That makes, at a conservative estimate, the state’s contribution about $520 million if you include Mac Point’s debt. Do you agree? That is all cost that would be carried by the Tasmanian people. Will you be honest about that?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Well, we invest in enabling infrastructure every year, every day of the week, Ms O’Connor, and this is an example of it. The fact is that we’ll be having a capital investment of $375 million into the stadium. There will be other opportunities for private investment across the precinct no doubt and in the stadium.
Ms O’CONNOR – Premier, the Macquarie Point Development Corporation according to its last annual report has net cash at bank of about $6.6 million. Do you think that will be enough to pay for the removal and relocation of the Goods Shed?
Mr ROCKLIFF – I refer to the answer of Ms Beach around the Goods Shed. Answered it very openly and honestly to this point in time. The fact is we are in the planning stage, Ms O’Connor, okay? In the planning stage. Planning documents have been submitted to the Tasmanian Planning Commission as part of the project of state significance process, and we’ll keep working our way through that.
CHAIR – One last question, honourable Member.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Which is available for scrutiny as well.
CHAIR – And then I need to move down the table.
Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you. I’m just confirming that you say this is an opportunity for scrutiny and you’re being really transparent about it. We haven’t established through you what the actual costs will be of this stadium to the people of Tasmania. There’s all sorts of extra associated costs that the private sector is clearly not going to fund. What is your plan B if you can’t get private sector companies that are foolish enough to invest in loss-making infrastructure? What’s your plan B? Who’ll cover the cost overruns, who’s going to pay for this? The people of Tasmania, aren’t they?
Mr ROCKLIFF – No. We’re working through the private investment options now. We covered this yesterday in scrutiny in terms of PPPs and other private investment options. I have a great deal of faith that there will be a great deal of investor interest, like there has been in other stadium projects across the country. I think of Optus Oval, for example, Ms O’Connor. So we will have these discussions, you and I, until –
Ms O’CONNOR – Well, I don’t want to be part of any sort of discussions over enabling a stadium.
Mr ROCKLIFF – No, I was referring to the scrutiny over the course of the next number of years.
Ms O’CONNOR – There’ll be a different set of numbers at the table next year, I reckon.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Do you reckon?
Ms O’CONNOR – Well, I reckon more of the costs will be adding up and becoming obvious, and you won’t be able to say Tasmanians are only contributing $375 million.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Well, I beg to differ at this point in time. You have your view, I have mine.
