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
