Article: My Voters Don’t Want This Stadium
Photo: Conor Castles-Lynch
Sunday Tasmanian, 11 May 2025; pg 6
My Voters Don’t Want This Stadium
11 May 2025
Amelia Swan
Anti-stadium politicians joined together to hit out at the major parties for their support for the proposed Macquarie point stadium, accusing them of ignoring the public’s concerns.
Speaking to crowds gathered for a “no stadium” rally on Hobart’s parliament lawns on Saturday, Tasmanian Independents and Greens called on the Premier to renegotiate the controversial stadium deal.
“Tasmanians from across the island and all political persuasions rallied against Jeremy Rockliff and Dean Winter’s stadium folly on parliament lawns today,” Greens member for Hobart Cassy O’Connor said.
“The strong message from today’s rally is that, overwhelmingly, Tasmanians want to keep the team we’ve earned and deserve but they reject a multi-billion dollar stadium and its drain on the public purse for generations.”
Sports Minister Nick Duigan acknowledged the protest saying stadium builds were “contentious wherever they are”.
“What we know as a government is that our conditional licence to join the AFL has a stadium attached to that,” Mr Duigan said.
Independent MP for Nelson Meg Webb accused the Premier of “holding the promised team to ransom”.
Senator Jacqui Lambie said the government’s decision to abandon the independent planning process was “disgraceful”, and called on the Premier to “have the guts” to drop the deal.
“My voters don’t want this stadium and we’re not moving,” she said.
