Lib pledge backed for stadium

THE Hobart Chargers board, including former Tasmanian Labor president David Bartlett, has backed the Liberals basketball election policy and called on “other parties” to follow suit.

The Liberals announced a $10 million election promise to design, plan and construct a multisports indoor centre at Glenorchy, which will be used for basketball, netball, gymnastics, volleyball, futsal and martial arts.

A statement from the board said: “We welcome the significant announcement by the Tasmanian Liberals yesterday that will see the first major investment in southern Tasmanian basketball infrastructure in decades.

“We have worked closely with the Government on articulating the needs for this high-growth sport and we are very pleased that it appears the Tasmanian Liberals have listened.

“We are hopeful that other parties contesting this state election will also commit to basketball and we are encouraging the basketball community to consider policy announcements that will advance the sport carefully when casting their vote.”

However, Opposition sports spokeswoman Michelle O’Byrne raised questions on where the funding would come from.

“The Liberals’ basketball promise hinges on federal funding which has not been confirmed by [Prime Minister] Malcolm Turnbull or any of the Tasmanian Liberal Senators,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“The Treasurer needs to break down how the proposed basketball promise is funded — where is the money coming from?”

Ms O’Byrne said a majority Labor Government would make available $750,000 in 2017-18 for improvements to basketball facilities in Tasmanian schools and club venues across the state.

She said they would commit $250,000 in 2017-18 for the existing SEABL in Schools Program.