Media Release: Parliament Should see Final Stadium Cost Amount Before Construction Contract is Signed

Parliament Should See Final Stadium Cost Amount Before Construction Contract Is Signed

Thursday 3 September 2026

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today tabled a motion in the Legislative Council requiring the Government to release both the final estimated total construction costs, and the final State contribution estimate for the Macquarie Point stadium, before a construction contract is signed.

“This is a perfectly reasonable ask and one which most Tasmanians would expect,” Ms Webb said.

“Since Premier Rockliff first promised the State contribution to the proposed stadium was capped at ‘$375 million and not one red cent more’, we’ve seen that amount increase to $875 million – an increase of over 130 per cent in the space of 16 months.

“Treasurer Abetz has recently stated publicly it is anticipated the current $1.13 billion cost could change by the end of this year.

“Tasmanians are tired of finding out what they’ve been signed up to after the fact. It is only fair, accountable and transparent we know before the contract is signed this time whether we are still expected to pay $875 million for the AFL-demanded stadium, or whether that amount has changed and if so what that final amount is.

“The Government has argued this amount must be kept secret during the procurement stage of tender negotiations. My motion requests these final estimated costs to be released upon completion of the procurement process but prior the final signing of the tender contract.”

Ms Webb said this is similar to the approval process timeframe available to the Public Works Committee which routinely examines large State-funded infrastructure projects before the tender process has completed and before the signing of any final contract.

The motion is expected to be debated later this year and would require the Government to provide to the Legislative Council the highest likely total cost of the total project construction and the estimated State contribution component, upon the completion of the procurement process.

Attached: Text of Motion tabled in the Legislative Council by the Hon Meg Webb MLC

Text of Motion tabled in the Legislative Council by the Hon Meg Webb MLC on Thursday 3 September 2026 as a pdf below or here:

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