Article-‘It can’t be a team at all costs’: rally told
Article | The Examiner | 28 August 2023; pgs 1 & 3.
‘It can’t be a team at all costs’: rally told; Battle against stadium at Macquarie Point far from over
Joe Colbrook
Anti-stadium cause still alive and kicking Politicians and ordinary Tasmanians took to Launceston’s Civic Square to voice their continued opposition to the proposed stadium at Macquarie Point.
POLITICIANS and aggrieved voters say they will fight the proposed stadium at Macquarie Point to the bitter end.
About 100 people gathered in Launceston’s Civic Square for a “Yes AFL Team, No Stadium” rally, where they heard from speakers including politicians Jacqui Lambie, Rosalie Woodruff, Ruth Forrest, Meg Webb and Lara Alexander.
The Jacqui Lambie Network senator played to the northern audience, claiming Launceston was the state’s football capital and the franchise deal amounted to “blackmail”.
“Since when did the southerners become experts on AFL?” Ms Lambie said.
“It’s always been said the capital of AFL in Tasmania is bloody Launceston.
“If you want to spend money on a stadium, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the one you’ve got over there, perfectly positioned.”
Ms Lambie said it was highly likely the $715 million price tag would balloon to beyond $1 billion, and the money would be better-spent on health or education.
The Tasmanian Greens leader said the rally was a “middle finger” to the state government, and called on her parliamentary colleagues in the Labor party to block any stadium-related bill.
“The premier has thrown his whole energy behind building baubles for the AFL,” Dr Woodruff said.
“We are going to make sure that stadium is never built.
“The premier never asked Tasmanians what our views were. It’s the biggest infrastructure investment project in the history of Tasmania and they didn’t even get Treasury advice.”
Ms Webb said there was an “utter lack of credibility” to the stadium’s business case, while Ms Alexander said it was important to scrutinise every aspect of the AFL deal and hold the government to account.
Ms Forrest urged those in attendance to continue to “make their voices heard” and attempt to sway their local representatives, as stadium-relevant legislation had to pass both houses of parliament.
Rally organiser Lindsay Hickam said those in attendance were not against the stadium in all circumstances, rather there were more pressing issues that needed funding.
Mr Hickam said the state “deserved” an AFL team, but that should not be contingent on the stadium deal particularly when UTAS Stadium and Bellerive Oval had served the state’s sporting needs to date.
“The government forgot its core responsibility, which is its people,” he said.
“It’s all well and good to build shiny new stadiums, but not when you’ve got a health crisis or homelessness crisis or housing crisis.
The rally organiser said although it had been presented as a fait accompli, the fight against the stadium was far from finished.
“I don’t think [Jeremy Rockliff] is listening, and that’s at his own peril,” Mr Hickam said.
“It can’t be a team at all costs.”
View video of Meg’s speech delivered to the Launceston rally here.
