The Minority Rockliff Government is misleading Tasmanians about Jeremy Rockliff’s “not a red cent more” promise regarding a $375 million spending cap on the Macquarie Point Stadium.

In doing so, they're putting our AFL teams and thousands of jobs at risk.

This morning on ABC Radio, Minister Abetz repeatedly claimed that the Premier was clear that his spending cap promise actually included borrowings above and beyond $375 million.

“On Valentine's Day, 14, February, 2024, the Premier specifically said 375, capital input, Leon, plus borrowings,” Mr Abetz said.

The Premier’s spending cap promise on the stadium wasn’t made public until February 15, when it appeared in the Mercury as an exclusive. There was no mention of borrowings in the story, or the Premier’s subsequent media release.

That day, he fronted local media. “What is a clear commitment is that the $375 million will be invested and not one cent more. This is our commitment; there will be no more spent on or invested in the stadium, the Macquarie Point precinct stadium, than $375 million. That’s our commitment,” the Premier said.

In Question Time, the Premier couldn’t point to any instance during the 2024 election campaign where he mentioned borrowings, like his Minister stated.

He did however outrageously attempt to maintain that he hadn’t misled, citing the stadium business case, which was published in 2023.

The Premier can’t escape the fact that his “red cent more” promise was made months later, and that any person hearing it would believe it to override previous commitments about the project. 

Trying to pretend otherwise will not be viewed kindly by the Legislative Council.

The chaos and incompetence of the Premier's handling of this project is putting our AFL teams and thousands of jobs at risk.

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer