QUESTIONS LINGER OVER STADIUM CASH
THE federal government is staying coy on whether it will help fund a new stadium in Hobart, as a crucial vote on Tasmania’s last push for an AFL team looms.
Club presidents will decide on whether the state should be granted the 19th team licence later this month after the Rockliff government offered to pump $100m into the team over 10 years and $50m into a high-performance centre.
The AFL has made a new stadium on Hobart’s waterfront a condition for a Tasmanian team.
The state government has proposed to build a 27,000-seat stadium at Regatta Point, estimated to cost at least $750m, but it is understood the AFL would prefer it to be built at Macquarie Point. Sport Minister Nic Street has said the state government would cover up to 50 per cent of the stadium costs and would seek private investment and federal funding to make up the difference.
But a spokeswoman for federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the Albanese government had not yet made a decision on whether it would chip in for the proposed stadium.
“A future Tasmanian AFL team is a decision for the AFL and questions about how that may happen are decisions for the AFL and the Tasmanian government,” the spokeswoman said.
“The Australian government will consider all funding requests from state or territory governments in accordance with normal processes.”
Mr Street said the government’s offer to the AFL was “unprecedented and stands on its own merit”.
“I would welcome the federal government‘s support for Tasmanian AFL and AFLW teams.”