Ms O’CONNOR – In terms of unfunded costings. There’s a whole range of them associated with the Macquarie Point stadium project which has been identified by Treasury. Including, for example, the $75 million for the northern access road, the rapid transit, pedestrian access infrastructure, the two-storey car park into the mud of the river. Should the stadium be approved, how does the government plan to fund those extra costs, given that there’s no allocation for them and we’re churning towards $13 billion net debt within a few years?
Mr ABETZ – The northern access road is funded already and that was under the Hobart City Deal 2019 or 2018.
Ms O’CONNOR – That money is in the bank?
CHAIR – It’s in the Budget.
Mr ABETZ – Yes, it’s in the Budget, and as I had occasion to say the other day: no stadium, no team, but the northern access road, yes. It’s going to happen irrespective. That said, the stadium will of course leverage off the benefit of the northern access road should it be built. It will be built in any event, irrespective of the stadium’s approval.
Ms O’CONNOR – Getting back then to all those unfunded extra costs associated with the stadium which have been identified by the Planning Commission and by Treasury. What’s the plan for that, should parliament make the mistake of approving the order?
Mr ABETZ – It won’t be a mistake. It’ll be a very positive thing.
Ms O’CONNOR – We’re talking your budget disaster; it will be a mistake.
Mr ABETZ – That aside. With the footpath, as I understand it, that is not a requirement ‑
Ms O’CONNOR – Keep pulling out little bits.
Mr ABETZ – Well, you mentioned individual items. I debunk each individual item and then you accuse me of pulling out individual items.
Ms O’CONNOR – There’s a whole suite of unfunded extra infrastructure and works that are required.
Mr ABETZ – Out of that list, two of them I’ve already debunked in relation to the car park and we have Macquarie Point Development this afternoon.
CHAIR – Would you rather that question be posed then?
Ms O’CONNOR – I think he should be able to answer it. This is a Treasury question.
Mr ABETZ – We and the Macquarie Point Development are confident and satisfied that the figures that have been provided and put forward will allow the stadium to go ahead. As to the so‑called extra costs, I debunked them during the stadium debate in the other place –
Ms O’CONNOR – Are you saying they don’t exist, or that they’ll be funded by debt?
Mr ABETZ – They don’t exist, like the northern access road is already funded. The footpath is not necessary. The car park – I don’t have my head around that.
Mr SWAIN – The car parks would have to be a question to Macquarie Point Development. I think they’re looking at the extent to which they can get commercial funding into that.
Ms O’CONNOR – They’ve had such great luck with private interest in the stadium project so far.
