Rockliff: I’ve got authority

Blair Richards | The Saturday Mercury | June 24, 2023

Premier Jeremy Rockliff says Cabinet was kept well informed of the progress of Tasmania’s AFL deal and stadium, amid criticism he signed the deal without Cabinet approval.

Mr Rockliff’s actions around the deal were further scrutinised in a Public Accounts Committee hearing on Friday.

Late on Thursday, Mr Rockliff tabled a list of documents relating to the stadium that had Cabinet-in-confidence privilege, in line with his ministerial statement pledging transparency. The list of 26 documents covers from January 2020 to June 2023.

Mr Rockliff faced repeated questions around if and when Cabinet considered the AFL deal in detail.

“I’ve got the authority to sign the deal, and Cabinet were fully aware of aspects of the deal of course, particularly the investment because it was part of the budget decision,” he said.

The state government is contributing $375m of the $715m predicted stadium cost, including $230m over the next four years.

Mr Rockliff reiterated his commitment to the stadium project which is dividing public opinion, but linked with Tasmania’s AFL team.
“This decades-long fight is not something I am willing to give up on,” Mr Rockliff said.

Also during the hearing, Independent Nelson MLC Meg Webb raised concerns about the tone of the stadium debate being played out on social media, in the wake of competing stadium artist’s impressions. Ms Webb questioned the government’s language around the image released by community group Our Place and created by a leading architect.

“Your social media platforms and government media release described this as grubby, dodgy and a scare tactic. I’m just wondering how that aligns with having respect for differing views … you are the Premier, and you have to have your big boy pants on,” Ms Webb said.

Mr Rockliff said he supported respectful debate. “I always have a very considered tone in my social media,” he said. 

Parliament will consider the stadium as part of a projects of state significance process, under a commitment made by Mr Rockliff with former Liberal MPs John Tucker and Lara Alexander.

Amendments to the State Policies and Projects Act, tabled late on Thursday, will allow this to occur. But the changes to the Act can’t be debated for another seven weeks, with the House of Assembly on a winter break until August 8.