Premier Rockliff’s plans to fast-track Macquarie Point’s timber-roofed stadium appear to be dead in the water thanks to delays caused by last week’s election, with the final makeup of Tasmania’s parliament, including the predominantly anti-stadium crossbench, to be settled next week.
The delay comes after the Tasmanian government’s attempt to expedite the approval process for the 23,000-seat, $945 million indoor stadium by bypassing the project of state significance (POSS) assessment process. The POSS process, which has held public hearings in recent weeks, has nonetheless continued and will provide a final report on September 17.
Yesterday, Rockliff indicated that the fast-track legislation will no longer be pursued, given that parliament will not return until September. “We put the enabling legislation forward because of particular timeframes,” he told ABC Radio. “But expectations are the timelines are now roughly the same in terms of enabling legislation and the POSS process.”
Labor leader Dean Winter, whose party also supports the stadium and said it would vote for the fast-track legislation, now wants to see the project go through the POSS process: “It’s clear there is no advantage, in terms of timeline, of the direct legislation,” he told yesterday. “The POSS has more certainty and is more likely to be supported in the Legislative Council.”
Under the POSS process, the stadium must pass a full parliamentary vote before it can be approved. And whilst the stadium – which is a condition of the Tassie Devills entry to the AFL – has the full support by the Liberals, who have won 14 of the 35 lower-house seats after the election, and Labour, which has 10 seats, it faces a much trickier passage through the Legislative Council, where neither party holds the numbers. Counting to determine the final two undecided election seats continues, with preference distribution expected to begin on Tuesday.
Rockliff and Winter, who must obtain the support of the Greens to form a government, are negotiating with a crossbench that is mainly opposed to the stadium. The Greens, who hold five seats, are against, as are independents Kristie Johnston, Craig Garland and Peter George. Meanwhile, Wood Central reported on Monday that Independent David O’Byrne backs the stadium.
Rockliff and Winter have said the stadium is not up for negotiation.
Mr Winter reiterated Mr Rockliff would get “first crack” at governing, but Labor didn’t want Tasmania forced back to another election if the Liberals couldn’t: “In the event he can’t secure 18 votes on the floor of the house there is going to need to be people working across the parliament together,” Winter said.
O’Byrne said the raw numbers on the floor would dictate how easily either major party could form a government. He also said he was open to a Liberal or Labor government. Meanwhile, a trio of crossbenchers, including Ms Johnston, Mr Garland and Mr George said formal negotiations won’t begin until after the final election results have been decided, saying neither major party has a mandate to govern: “For that reason, like other cross bench members, we will be speaking to both major parties about confidence and supply,” the trio said in a statement.
- To learn more about Macquarie Point, click here for Wood Central’s special feature, including the full plans for the stadium.
