When the Liberal Government announced a
new $750 million-dollar floating stadium on Hobart’s waterfront without a plan to
deliver it they put Tasmania in a poor negotiating position. Now the AFL wants
them to deliver on it.
It’s all very well for Premier Rockliff
to threaten to withdraw Tasmania’s proposal but it was his government that put
the stadium on the table. If negotiations fail to deliver a Tasmanian team he
needs to take responsibility.
Labor has consistently supported
Tasmania’s AFL bid. Our state deserves a team in the national competition but
is shouldn’t be dependent on the stadium.
The future of a Tasmanian AFL team now
rests with the Premier. Unfortunately, his government’s stadium misstep and
weak chest beating have damaged Tasmania’s bid to attain an AFL license.
Josh Willie
Shadow Minister for Sport
