Tasmania’s premier has divided and “sold out” the state over his deal with the AFL for a 19th licence and plans for a contentious $715 million stadium, opposition parties say.
Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s government entered parliament on Tuesday in minority for the first time after MPs John Tucker and Lara Alexander quit the party on May 12.
The now-independents cited transparency concerns surrounding the state government’s deal with the AFL.
Funding for the proposed stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart was locked in last month, prompting the AFL to grant the state a licence for the league’s 19th team.
Opposition Leader Rebecca White moved a motion of no confidence against Mr Rockliff in parliament on Tuesday.
“(Their) reckless behaviour has divided Tasmania. That is poor leadership,” the Labor leader said.
“When we could have been united celebrating a team … we have been divided.
“It’s a terrible deal, an absolute shocker. This is a government in chaos, it is in disarray.”
State Labor, the Greens, as well as independents at state and federal level, have campaigned against the stadium, arguing the money could be better spent on essential services.
State Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said Mr Rockliff had sold out Tasmania and been walked over by AFL boss Gillon McLachlan.
“What a price Tasmanians have been asked to pay,” she said.
“Tasmanians will be paying the price for this folly for a generation. There is no way this adds up as fiscally responsible.”
The no confidence motion will fail however, with Mr Tucker and Ms Alexander pledging to vote with the government and defeat it.
The Liberal government now holds 11 of 25 lower house seats.
The deal between the state government and the AFL was made public on Sunday.
It revealed the government would foot the bill for any stadium cost overruns and must also fork out $4.5m a year if the facility isn’t ready to host games by the club’s proposed second season in 2029.
The government has pledged to declare the stadium a project of state significance, which means it will need to be voted through both houses of parliament before it is assessed by the planning commission.
Mr Rockliff on Tuesday indicated he was seeking advice about law changes to ensure the parliament could have a second vote on the plan after it is assessed by the commission.
Tasmania was granted an AFL licence on May 3 after a decades-long fight.
The AFL says the team cannot exist without the new stadium.
The state government has pledged $375m towards the stadium, with the federal government chipping in $240m for the stadium and broader infrastructure at the site.
– AAP
