Minister, the Sullivans Cove Planning Scheme has height limits for development on Macquarie Point and key sightlines from the Cenotaph are explicitly named and provided protection via criteria. Are you aware of this and do you accept that the purpose of those provisions is to protect the values of the Cenotaph and its reverential ambience from development?
The reason the RSL is so passionate is that the Cenotaph was chosen as a site for its prominence. The hill where the Cenotaph now stands was the last thing of the city that departing World War I soldiers would see from their ships. That's why the sightlines are so important, including sightlines to the water, and that's why they're protected in the planning scheme. You, I know, minister, have been long aware of this. Did you ever advise the Premier of the unsuitability of Mac Point for the stadium before, during or after it was chosen by the AFL as the only site upon which to consider a stadium, despite at the time having numerous options?
Minister, as you'd be aware, the Greens have developed a cenotaph protection bill, which we've put out for public comment. It has the strong support of RSL Tasmania and the Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue, and it is designed to protect the cenotaph from all inappropriate development. It's designed to protect the values of the cenotaph. Given your support for veterans and your recognition of the heritage and cultural values of the Hobart cenotaph, will your government be supporting the Greens bill to protect those sightlines and that sacred place?
Minister, I do acknowledge your ongoing strong support for veterans. I also acknowledge that you must be in a spot of bother in some ways because you are part of a government that plans a stadium which will significantly impact on the historic cultural heritage and the values of the cenotaph. How do you respond to statements by Chief Executive Officer John Hardy from the RSL when he says that the RSL has been disrespected and misled at every turn by government in relation to the stadium.
Following months of requests, new image renders of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium provided by the government to RSL Tasmania are a vindication of the organisation’s concerns and show significant impacts on the Cenotaph’s values.
On Friday, RSL Tasmania was finally provided with Macquarie Point Development Corporation images that model the impact of the Macquarie Point Stadium on important sightlines of the Cenotaph. These sightlines are explicitly named in planning rules and, until your stadium fast‑track process, were protected by provisions and a 15‑metre building height limit at Macquarie Point.
The Tasmanian Greens are proud to release a consultation draft of the Hobart Cenotaph Bill 2024, for feedback from stakeholders and the community over a six-week period. Drafted at the request of RSL Tasmania, and with the concept endorsed by RSL Australia and Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue, this bill ensures that long-standing protections for the values of the Cenotaph are enshrined in law.
Last week, at the explicit request of the RSL and its sub‑branches, we announced we will develop legislation to protect the Hobart Cenotaph from the impacts of your stadium.