Media Release: New Low for the State

New Low for the State

13 April 2025

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today condemned as an affront to the Tasmanian people the Premier’s autocratic decision to pull the Macquarie Point stadium out of the Project of State Significance process in order to avoid any planning approval requirement.

“This is a new low for our State – a minority Government behaving with utter disregard for good governance and accountable decision-making,” Ms Webb said.

“Parliament has a responsibility to make sound and evidence-based decisions in the public interest.  Yet by nobbling the independent TPC assessment process, Premier Rockliff is deliberately preventing comprehensive evidence from being available to inform any parliamentary debate.

“This is a clear admission from the Premier that the Macquarie Point stadium – as demanded by the AFL and signed up to by him behind closed doors with no oversight or consultation – is so manifestly flawed it could not hope to pass the rules and standards of our regular planning system.

“Having attempted a disgraceful character assassination of independent experts, including our Tasmanian Planning Commission, in the face of significant and undeniable concerns raised about the AFL-demanded stadium project, Premier Rockliff is now attempting a parliamentary ram-raid.”

Ms Webb said the Tasmanian people will rightly be horrified to see this reckless action from a Government with no mandate.

“Premier Rockliff is flouting due process and ignoring the massive clouds hanging over the project.

“No wonder the Premier is in such an unholy rush to force this untenable stadium through a cowed Parliament before MPs and the Tasmanian community are given a final independent assessment of the multitude of serious problems it presents.”

Ms Webb said the issues with the AFL-demanded Mac Point stadium are undeniable.

“In some important cases, the issues are unsolvable.  Of greatest concern would be the finding the site cannot be safely evacuated in the case of an emergency, the potential for the level of debt it will generate to result in a down-grade of our state’s credit rating, not to mention the inadequately addressed matter of toxic contamination that has health and environmental risks during excavation and relocation.

“Those are just the tip of the iceberg, with dozens more crucial issues identified.”

Ms Webb said concerns have been raised on every front.

“Economic, social, environmental and cultural concerns – and in by-passing the final assessment of the independent POSS process, the Premier will deny Tasmanians the opportunity to have confidence these issues can and will be addressed.

“In taking such an autocratic path, the Premier has not only put the long-term viability of our Tasmania Devils team at risk, but he is also determined to trash the foundation of our planning system and put our parliament in an invidious position.”