- In short: Two Tasmanian Liberals who quit the party citing concerns over the plan to build an AFL stadium in Hobart have stood with the state premier to guarantee they'll vote with the government
- What's next?: Parliament resumes on Tuesday, with the state budget handed down on Thursday — which is likely to include funding set aside for the Hobart AFL stadium
The proposed Macquarie Point stadium will need to pass both houses of Tasmanian parliament following an agreement reached between former Liberal backbenchers Lara Alexander and John Tucker, and Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
The three made the announcement on Saturday morning, ending over a week of speculation regarding how the government — now in minority status — would attempt to continue with the contentious stadium.
It was previously going to be put through the major project laws, meaning it would not require a vote, but it will instead be designated as a project of state significance, which requires the approval of parliament.
Ms Alexander said it would improve transparency around the stadium.
"Parliament has to be the deciding factor," she said.
"[This] in effect allows the two houses to actually have good scrutiny … vote, and actually look into the project regardless of their political colour."
Mr Tucker described the agreement as "a great day for transparency".
Other aspects of the deal include publishing the AFL agreement "as soon as possible", subject to confidentiality, with members of parliament provided all material not publicly disclosed.
Ms Alexander and Mr Tucker will meet with the premier weekly, and have agreed to provide confidence and supply.
They will also not vote in favour of legislation brought forward by Labor or the Greens.
Mr Rockliff said he was pleased to have supply guaranteed, and believed the government could now proceed with its agenda.
He said the stadium would be subject to extensive scrutiny.
"The parliament will have two opportunities – one to set up the project of state significance, and then finalise the arrangements moving forward should all the planning criteria be met," Mr Rockliff said.
"There are two opportunities for the parliament … and people of Tasmania … to get to have a say on the stadium."
The government had previously planned to put the stadium through its new major projects laws, passed in 2019, that did not require votes from local council or parliament, but included a panel process.
Instead, both houses of parliament will need to vote in support of designating the stadium a project of state significance, to start the process.
The public will get its say, then it will come back to parliament for final approval.
It should pass the lower house – with the support of Ms Alexander and Mr Tucker – but faces a rocky time in the upper house, where Labor, progressive and northern independents will likely be sceptical of the stadium. They can combine for a one or two vote majority already.
Week of uncertainty
Their decision to resign from the Tasmanian Liberals on May 12 threw the government into minority status.
The government had previously ruled with a one-seat lower house majority.
Central to their decision was a lack of transparency around the government's AFL and stadium funding deals, potentially putting both deals in doubt, given opposition from Labor and the Greens.
This attracted significant interest from the AFL community, with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan saying there was a "binding agreement" he believed could survive the political instability.
The resignations also came two weeks before the government hands down its budget, where funding for the stadium – $375 million over six years – is expected to be included.
Ms Alexander and Mr Tucker demanded the premier allow them to see the stadium contracts, but ruled out voting in favour of any no confidence motions.
In the week that followed, there was heightening speculation about how the premier would respond.
On Friday, Ms Alexander and Mr Tucker appeared on ABC Hobart's Drive program, but refused to say whether an agreement had been reached.
Mr Tucker repeatedly read out a pre-prepared statement in response to a range of questions: "We have been working cooperatively with the premier, and we will be making a comprehensive statement in the near future".
Ms Alexander said they were "not in the business of throwing the government into turmoil".
Both said they would not be rejoining the Liberals and they expected to receive the same parliamentary rights – including to ask questions – when parliament returns on Tuesday.
The two are considered on the conservative side of the Liberal party – particularly in comparison to the moderate premier — and have repeatedly raised concerns about government debt, in addition to stadium issues.
