Media Release: AFL Should Heed Call from State, Federal and Local Elected Reps
AFL Should Heed Call from State, Federal and Local Elected Reps
Monday, 9 June 2025
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today urged the AFL to heed calls from State representatives to consider renegotiating the contentious Macquarie Point stadium to secure the future of the Tasmanian Devils men’s and women’s football teams.
Ms Webb is a signatory to a letter sent today to AFL CEO Andrew Dillon by 21 Tasmanian elected representatives from the State and Federal parliaments as well as Local Government.
“I have long been on the record calling for the AFL deal to be renegotiated in order to save the Tasmanian team,” Ms Webb said.
“By signing up to this letter, I am signing up to putting the case to Mr Dillon and the AFL why Tasmanians should get the team we deserve, but not at any cost imposed by the AFL, and certainly not at the ruinous cost we know the controversial Macquarie Point stadium to be.”
Ms Webb said in other areas of personal and professional life it is considered sensible and a sign of strength to be prepared to come to the table and negotiate to find solutions.
“I would hope the AFL is as committed to a Tasmanian team as are the signatories to this letter and Mr Dillon is at least prepared to meet with a delegation wishing to represent the views of the ordinary Tasmanians who the AFL has not heard from.
“We know where there is a political will there can be an alternative way. We saw that with the renegotiated win-win which saw the High Performance facility moved from the unpopular Rosny Park AFL-preferred site to Kingston.
“Both Labor and Liberal have failed the leadership test when it comes to standing up for the Tasmanian community’s best interests over the divisive Macquarie Point stadium travesty.
“That failure is why the 21 signatories to this letter consider we have a responsibility to at least attempt to put to the AFL bosses ourselves the case for renegotiation for the sake of the team, to heal the division in our community and to protect the state’s finances now and for future generations.”
View below the letter to AFL CEO Andrew Dillon signed by 21 Tasmanian elected representatives, and as a downloadable pdf here
