The Tasmanian government has secured the parliamentary votes needed to proceed with its highly controversial AFL stadium, clearing a major hurdle for the state to field a team in the national competition.
Parliamentary Approval Secures AFL Dream
After intense debate, the state's upper house on Wednesday gained the necessary support from three key independent members to pass the stadium proposal. Bec Thomas, Tania Rattray, and Casey Hiscutt all declared they would back the project, providing the eight votes required.
While a formal vote is yet to be held, the result is now considered a formality. The decision paves the way for the Tasmania Devils to enter the AFL and AFLW competitions in 2028, with the construction of the roofed stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Point being a non-negotiable condition of the licence.
A Divisive Deal and Financial Guarantees
The $1.13 billion, 23,000-seat venue has deeply divided the community and political sphere. In return for her crucial support, independent MP Bec Thomas secured a deal with the Liberal government, including a cap on the state's contribution at $375 million plus borrowings, with the total state outlay not to exceed $875 million.
"I am genuinely sorry to those who desperately did not want me to support this," an emotional Thomas told parliament, calling it the hardest decision of her life. She acknowledged valid concerns over the price but said the stadium represented "hope, aspiration, opportunity and the AFL dream."
The funding model involves $15 million from the AFL, $240 million from the federal government, and the remainder from the state.
Opposition and the Road Ahead
Despite the parliamentary breakthrough, significant opposition remains. Critics, including independent Ruth Forrest, argue the project is a poor priority for a state facing ballooning debt, forecast to surpass $10 billion by 2028/29. Tasmania's own planning authority recommended against the stadium, saying it was too big for the site and its costs outweighed benefits.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who signed the original AFL deal, hailed the decision. "The project … is too important for Tasmania not to proceed. It is a huge opportunity for us in terms of the economy, jobs, aspiration and our own AFL and AFLW team," he said.
However, anti-stadium group Our Place - Hobart vowed to continue the fight. "Parliament can permit the stadium to be built, but it cannot legislate reality to be different," spokesman Roland Browne said.
