Tasmanian Election Debate Centres on New Stadium and Native Forrests

White accused Rockliff of being flippant with taxpayer’s money to fund the whole project after saying he had earlier committed to a funding cap of $375 million

Premier of Tasmania, Jeremy Rockliff speaks during a press conference in Hobart, April 29, 2023. Tasmania looks set to have its own AFL team after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged an additional $240 million to the state government to build a new waterfront stadium in Hobart. AAP Image/Loic Le Guilly

Plans for a new AFL stadium and the protection of native forests from logging were the hot topics at the final leader’s debate at Hobart Town Hall ahead of Tasmania’s upcoming state election on March 23.

The island state’s elections are typically closely contested, with a history of minority governments and intricate political manoeuvres. The major parties, the Liberal Party and the Labor Party, often compete fiercely, along with the Greens, who have a strong presence in Tasmanian politics. The defection or cross-bench move by two MPs triggered the election, nearly 12 months earlier than scheduled.