What the political turmoil means for the Tasmanian Devils AFL team and Hobart stadium

Australia Broadcast Center

04-06-2025

Tasmania's AFL licence hangs by the barest of threads, following a day of mass upheaval in the state parliament.
A no-confidence motion against Premier Jeremy Rockliff, moved by the Labor opposition and supported by a majority of the house, was being debated into Wednesday evening.
The outcome is likely to result in the ousting of Mr Rockliff as premier, potentially sending Tasmanians back to the polls, a little over a year since the last election.
That potential election throws the Macquarie Point stadium, and plans for the Tasmanian Devils, into chaos.
At a press conference this morning, Devils general manager of marketing, corporate affairs and social impact, Kath McCann, broke down in tears when discussing the possibility of the team falling over before formally starting.
"The goings on of the last 24 hours are really serious for the club. This is an unprecedented level of uncertainty for the club," she said.
Both houses of Tasmania's parliament were due to vote on special enabling legislation designed to grant planning approval for the stadium, within the next six weeks.
But an early election could see that opportunity to vote disappear, leading to what the club would consider an irreparable blowout in construction and team establishment timelines.
The Devils have accepted that outcome would likely void the government's deal with the AFL, that stipulates the Macquarie Point stadium be built by early 2029.
"It'd be fair to say that the level of uncertainty would be significantly heightened," McCann said.
There has been no appetite from the AFL, or its 18 club presidents, to re-negotiate or rubber stump a new deal that allows those timelines to be extended, or for the stadium clause to be removed.
"If those contractual terms can't be met, there's no Plan B. There is no understanding from the club that a re-negotiation would be entered into," Ms McCann said.
The AFL has been contacted for comment.
Former Richmond champion Jack Riewoldt has been working with the Devils on an advisory basis.
He said the club remained focused on taking to the field in 2028 but was wary of the unfolding political situation.
"It's critically important for us to exist," he said of the stadium.
Champion woodchopper David Foster has also been recruited to the club as part of a 'posters and coasters' campaign in pubs and clubs across the north-west.
"We're our own worst enemy, to be honest with you," he said.
The stadium is considered pivotal to the state's financial viability and was first floated by the Tasmanian AFL taskforce as part of its original bid for a license.
Amidst speculation that Labor may attempt to pivot to the alternate Stadium 2.0 proposal, the ABC understands the party has communicated to the Devils that was unequivocally not in their plans.
Stakeholders and unions have expressed their concern that the stadium is now under a dark cloud.
"I envisaged there being a decade's worth of work off the back of a stadium, and that sures up a lot of work for our members into the future," said Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union organiser Ritchie Hassett.
Footy fans have reacted to the no-confidence motion with scorn too.
In a post on a popular pro-stadium social media page which boasts 23,000 members, administrator Mark Brown said Opposition leader Dean Winter and Labor member for Clark Josh Willie has been booted from the group.
Labor has supported the government's plans to build a stadium as part of its deal with the AFL since early last year.
In parliament, Mr Winter insisted that the no-confidence motion was not about the stadium or team.
"You can have the leader of the Greens, and the Greens and others, saying 'yes team, no stadium' but its not true. They know its not true," he said.
"In order for our state to get an AFL team, we need a stadium and that's why it's not in our motion.
"We supported the premier in building the stadium that he wanted to do, but that's not what this motion is about."
This afternoon, the Greens attempted to pass an amendment to the motion that would have made specific reference to the stadium, but that was voted down 25 votes to 10.
Mr Rockliff has previously indicated that if a no-confidence motion was passed against him, he would seek to call an election, but whether that happens remains to be seen.
He may decide to resign his leadership and allow a fellow Liberal party member take his place — but that would require the support of the house.
Amongst the leading candidates is the minister responsible for the stadium, Eric Abetz, but whether he would have the support of the house is unclear.