A re-elected majority Rockliff Liberal Government will cap Tasmanian Government capital expenditure on the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium at $375 million.

The Stadium will be a game-changer for Tasmania, generating over $300 million in economic activity, 4,000 jobs during construction, and 950 jobs per year once operational.

And, of course, it is the key to our very own AFL and AFLW teams.

Despite this, I recognise that this project is not everyone’s cup of tea and that some Tasmanians would prefer that this money was spent in different areas.

I also understand that there are concerns in the community that the final cost of the Stadium could significantly increase, leaving Tasmanian taxpayers with a large, unbudgeted bill.

Therefore, I have taken the decision that a re-elected majority Rockliff Liberal Government will cap Tasmanian Government capital expenditure on the Macquarie Point Stadium at the currently budgeted $375 million – and not one red cent more.

Along with the Macquarie Point Development Corporation and Stadiums Tasmania, we will open private-sector investment options for the Macquarie Point Precinct to ensure the Government’s contribution to the project is capped.

I note that in taking this decision, the taxpayer contribution will be capped at exactly the same amount as what is proposed but unproven by the proponents of the so-called Stadium 2.0 concept.

In fact, based on the information provided, there is potential for the Tasmanian taxpayer to wear the entire $2.3 billion cost of 2.0. Meanwhile, the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium will be capped at $375 million by the Tasmanian Government.

The difference is that the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium is well down the formal planning route, is written into the AFL agreement, and doesn’t face the multitude of additional challenges that the 2.0 concept does, including their vast civil and environmental challenge of digging out the cenotaph hill and using it to reclaim the Derwent River for foundations.

What it has shown is that, as we have always said, there will be private sector interest in the Macquarie Point development, and we will explore the best option to secure it.

This decision will ensure that the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium is constructed at a price the Tasmanian Government can afford while also securing our AFL dream.

I look forward to the Labor Party getting off the barbed-wire fence and clearly articulating whether they support the Stadium, or if they will kill it and our AFL dream should they be elected to government on March 23.

Only a majority Liberal Government will deliver our own Tasmanian AFL team.