Hobart stadium to pass Tasmanian parliament after support from independents
Independent MLC Bec Thomas speaking to media outside Tasmania's Parliament House. (ABC News: Mackenzie Heard)
In short:
While debate on a roofed stadium in Hobart is ongoing, the government has secured the commitment of enough upper house independents to ensure it will be approved.
The $1.13 billion stadium is a condition in a deal signed between the Tasmanian government and the AFL for the state to enter the competition, but its cost and location have generated opposition.
What’s next?
A final vote is not expected until later on Thursday; if approved, physical construction on the stadium is not expected to start until late 2026.
A vote to approve a roofed stadium near the Hobart waterfront will pass Tasmania's parliament after enough independents confirmed their support during Wednesday's debate.
The government needed eight out of 15 votes for the $1.13 billion stadium to pass the upper house.
Five votes will come from the Liberal government and Labor opposition, so three further crossbenchers were required.
Independents Tania Rattray, Bec Thomas, Dean Harriss and Casey Hiscutt confirmed their support during the debate, which is likely to continue into Thursday evening before a final vote.
Ms Thomas was one of several uncommitted independents prior to Wednesday, but confirmed her support with a list of "safeguards" agreed to by the government.
These included a $875 million cap on state government funding — the state's current publicly-stated commitment — and that any blowouts would see the government seek more funds from the Commonwealth, AFL or private sector.
Loading...It could also require another vote in parliament to release further funds, or to have the stadium "reduce in scope" if further funding cannot be secured.
Ms Thomas had to pause her speech briefly when she began to cry while speaking of the pressure that had been placed on upper house independents.
"You can see the work that I have put in to try and make the best of a bad situation here, on the calculated assumption that this order would be supported regardless of my vote,"she said.
Other safeguards agreed to by the government included a $105 million cap on state funding for the AFL high-performance centre at Hobart, and to spend an equal amount on community sporting infrastructure.
It includes information to be released on life-cycle costs and ongoing government subsidies, six months after a main contractor is chosen — likely to be chosen towards the end of 2026.
A means-tested affordable ticketing framework for vulnerable Tasmanians and those in regional areas is also included.
Loading...Ms Thomas said the government will be held to account by the project's oversight committee and a parliamentary committee.
"I think that is as binding as we can get," she said.
Roofed stadium key condition for team
The government is aiming to have the stadium complete for the 2029 AFL men's season, with the Tasmania Devils to enter the competition in 2028.
A stadium at Macquarie Point is included in the deal signed between the Tasmanian government and AFL; the Devils confirmed in parliament last month that the team would not go ahead without the stadium.
The high-performance centre at Kingston received council approval this week.
A render of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium in Hobart, Tasmania. (Supplied: MPDC)
Mr Hiscutt's support — confirmed just after lunch on Wednesday — was the final vote the government needed for the stadium.
He said he was satisfied with the safeguards.
"Basically, if the budget blowout happens, parliamentarians will have another opportunity to say, no, we agreed to $1.13bn, not $2 billion or whatever it may be," Mr Hiscutt said.
"It is one more layer of protection that we have been able to achieve."
A graphic of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium showcasing the four entrance gates. (Supplied: MPDC)
He said he recognised the significance of his decision.
"My message to you all is be kind," Mr Hiscutt said.
"Accept the decision one way or the other; we do not need more division."
An anti-stadium rally and a pro-stadium rally were held in front of Parliament House in Hobart on consecutive weekends — the pro-stadium rally attracting a larger crowd.
Some of the crowd at the rally in support of the stadium in Hobart, November 30, 2025. (ABC News: Jessica Moran)
Images from the No Stadium rally, demostrating opposition to planned Macquarie Point stadium, held at Hobart Parliament Lawns, November 23, 2025. (ABC News: Jordan Young)
The Tasmanian government earlier committed to cap its spending at $375 million, but this grew to include $490 million in borrowing after it chose not to pursue private investment.
The Commonwealth has committed $240 million to the broader precinct, and the AFL is providing $15 million.
Promise on taxes gets MLC over the line
Independent Dean Harriss had not confirmed his position on the stadium until he spoke during the debate on Wednesday afternoon.
He had sought commitments from the government on November 30 regarding budget repair, mindful that Tasmania is on track for more than $10 billion in net debt in four years.
Mr Harriss told parliament he needed a promise from the government that it was "fair dinkum" on addressing the state's finances, including considering tax increases before he would support the stadium.
"The government has confirmed that in addition to the need to rein in spending, budget repair will require an increase in own-source revenue," he said.
Mr Harriss interpreted this as increased taxes.
The letter outlines that net borrowings for government businesses would be reduced by $500 million over three years, while borrowings for the stadium increase by $490 million.
Government businesses include Homes Tasmania, Hydro Tasmania and other government-business enterprises.
As a result of the letter, Mr Harriss confirmed his support for the stadium.
At the start of his speech, he spoke emotionally about his father, the late Paul Harriss, a former independent and Liberal MP in Tasmanian Parliament.
"It's been suggested by some people via social media and through phone calls that my father would be turning in his grave if he knew I might not be supporting the stadium," he said.
"Having spent considerable time with dad over many years, and knowing him better than most, I can assure those people he wouldn't be turning in his grave, in fact he would expect me to do precisely what I was elected to do.
"Review, scrutinise, and provide checks and balances on government proposals without fear or favour."
The approval will essentially be the end of the 'project of state significance process'; the parliament was voting on an order that came out of that process.
Independent MLC Tania Rattray said she has supported the stadium project since 2023. (Supplied: Parliament of Tasmania)
It included a report by a Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) panel, which recommended against its approval on a range of grounds.
This included a cost-benefit ratio of 0.45 — for every $1 spent, it would generate 45 cents — and an argument that city planning problems were insurmountable.
The government chose not to agree with the panel's recommendation, arguing that some were matters of "opinion and choice" and that there are "unquantifiable" economic benefits.
The stadium was also not the first proposal for Macquarie Point; a master plan had been approved, which included an Aboriginal truth and reconciliation park and housing.
Meg Webb and Cassy O'Connor in chamber during stadium debate. (ABC News: Mackenzie Heard)
The government had to pay out on contracts for the housing, while consultation with Aboriginal stakeholders abruptly ended when the proposed stadium arrived in 2022.
The stadium now includes an "Aboriginal culturally-informed zone" alongside a highway, reduced in size to make way for practice cricket wickets and a relocated heritage goods shed, and now the emergency assembly site.
Independent MLC Ruth Forrest became emotional when discussing the impact the stadium will have on the nearby Hobart Cenotaph. (ABC News: Mackenzie Heard)
Greens MLC Cassy O'Connor said opponents were not against development.
"I reject assertions by a number of honourable members that people who are opposed to this stadium are 'anti-everything',"she said.
"We are pro the development of Macquarie Point, under the previous heavily consulted master plan, a genuine place for people 365 days a year."
A final vote is not expected until later on Thursday.
The upper house earlier voted to go through the stadium 'order' section by section.