Latest news with #KylieBaxter
ABC News
23-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Largest interstate Tasmanian devil breeding program devastated by NSW floods
Dean Reid So the situation is that we've had our sister organisation, Australian Reptile Park, come up yesterday with boots on the ground to get a lot of this stuff fixed that we need to. Every time we fix one of our sanctuary fences, there's so much water pumping through it, it broke again. So we've had our breach response in traps outside, just building the fence every day. While there's water pumping through it, it's pretty safe to say that no animals got out. We had camera traps on there too, which didn't pick anything up. And now we're just sort of triaging stuff, just making sure all the animals are safe. One of our devil pens was fully flooded, so we were pulling devils out of there the other day and putting them in vet block. So, yeah, but everyone's good so far. Kylie Baxter So the devils are safe, you just had to relocate them through the mud and the rain and these terrible conditions? Dean Reid Yeah, they usually live in little burrows. They dig their own burrows or under logs and stuff like that. Just one yard is in the back corner of the sanctuary where all the breeding animals are. The ones out into the BWS, which is our big sanctuary, we have about 50 devils out there. We've done a check around and they're running around and we put food out and monitored them. So they're all OK. But yeah, we did have to move about 10 devils out of one yard and we'll just have to wait for that flooding to go down in there. Kylie Baxter And do you have to put big gloves on? Because they're not always the friendliest creatures, are they, despite what people think? Dean Reid That's true. No. If you haven't hand raised one, then no, they are a bit aggressive. But the way you handle them is basically tailing them, getting them out very quickly and putting them in traps and then locating them somewhere else. Kylie Baxter I imagine a devil bite would not be a lot of fun. Dean Reid No, it's not a lot of fun. And yeah, we have to go to hospital and get that cleaned out if we get one. I've been working with devils for 14 years now and I've, touch wood, never been bitten by one. Kylie Baxter OK, that is good news. I'm glad about that. So are you preparing for more rain or what's happening as far as the weather event? Dean Reid So I've had about 500 mls all up on the Barrington Tops. It was sunny this morning, but it's come over cloudy and it's raining again. But just it's misty rain. So we've got everything in place at the moment. We've got fences coming in tomorrow. The water levels have dropped in all the creek lines. So we have a big fence coming in tomorrow to fix that section of fence. We went out this morning and double checked it and put some tin around it just so we, you know, just make sure it's extra safe. So we're not getting anything going out and anything coming in. We don't want cats and foxes coming in, obviously. But yeah, at the moment, we're sort of triaging everything. So we've just done a big flood appeal, which are on our socials, if anyone wants to go and have a look. Kylie Baxter Dean, what about the koalas? Is there any issues there or have they just climbed up to higher ground in their trees? Dean Reid Koalas always live high up in the tree. They will come to ground and go to tree to tree, but they sort of hunker down. They're built for this kind of thing. They curl up in a ball. They've got two layers of fur, one thick and one long and one short. And so I was looking at them today. I went and tracked all the koalas and they all look really well and healthy. But with so much rain and we've had so much rain constantly, that's why we got so flooded in the last three months is just constant rain and the water's got nowhere to go. But koalas can get a thing like septicemia if they're not monitored with too much rain, too wet and things like that. But all our koalas look great. Kylie Baxter Fantastic. And any other animals that you have there that you're keeping an eye on? Dean Reid Yeah. So our eastern quoll enclosures, we've got something like 80 quolls. One side of them, unfortunately, is concreted in, not like it's got concrete base around it, but it's dirt. Unfortunately, they all flooded. So we had to pull all the eastern quolls out of that side and re-home them into other areas. So that was, you know, all the quolls were up in their nest box, nice and dry. But obviously it was fully flooded in there. So they have to stay in there. They couldn't get to the ground. So we've moved all those and all our hand-raised animals like Pippidi the palmer, we just pull them in when it's really wet because they're not used to such wet conditions and we want to make sure they're nice and safe. Kylie Baxter And what are you hearing from colleagues and friends around the state? Because we're seeing some really sad pictures of animals trapped by these floodwaters. Dean Reid Yeah, it's terrible to see. Like, you know, we've been hit pretty hard up here, but thankfully, you know, we've got lots of boots on the ground and we're doing what we need to do. But it's just terrible to see the devastation in Taree and Port Macquarie and all those places and seeing cows on beaches. But on a good note, my neighbour next door was trying to get his pump out and a platypus popped right up. So they're doing well. Kylie Baxter Oh, well, that's good to hear. Look, I'm really glad that all of your animals are safe and that you're, you know, now able to get on the ground and do what you need to do. Dean, thanks for updating us on the situation. Dean Reid No, my pleasure. Thanks for having us.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Change my mind: The stadium debate
ABC Announcer Change my mind. The stadium debate. Various Voices Yeah, absolutely support it. It'd be great for Hobart. I don't want to support it. I don't think it should be there. It's crazy. Definitely on the Yeah nah. Definitely want the team, but the stadium, I think, can wait. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Nah, nah. Yeah, team. Nah, stadium. So much money and we could put funding toward other things. If the stadium could be built after the other priorities. If there were alternative investors, apart from the test money and taxpayers. If the AFL contributed more significantly. Maybe if they were thinking of other ways that they could use the stadium to, I guess, solve some of the other issues that we have in Tasmania. Yeah, absolutely. And surely the team can play in one of the two or three stadiums we already have. ABC Announcer Leon Compton and Kylie Baxter (sound of a horn at the AFL). On 936 ABC Radio Hobart and ABC Northern Tasmania. Leon Compton I reckon that's all the ideas we need there just in the intro from the voices of Tasmanians that we've heard from over the past weeks and months and indeed years as we've been talking about the issue that has everybody talking right now. Good afternoon to you wherever you're tuning in right around Tasmania on 936 ABC Radio Hobart, ABC North Tas and on our Facebook live audience right around the world. It is great to have your company. I wonder if you still have questions about the proposed AFL stadium for Macquarie Point in Hobart. I wonder what it is that you would like to know more about that would help make up your mind. If I ask you the question, how many Tasmanians do you think, what percentage of us are already firmly in the Yeah or the Nah camp? How many minds are there to be changed? I suspect amidst all the noise that the answer is quite a few. So it's great to have your company this afternoon and what we're hoping to do is give you some of that information that might help you decide whichever part of Tasmania you're in and whichever side of the debate you sit on at the moment. I've got to say it's been a fascinating experience trying to put this debate together over the last couple of weeks. The number of people who want this debate about a proposed stadium at Macquarie Point to sound like every other debate that Tasmania's ever had where sides intractably opposed just yell at each other and lob grenades and have that for an hour of radio. It's been very interesting to be part of. We hope the next 55 minutes will be different and then the conversations that Kylie and that Evan in the north host as soon as we wrap up at five o'clock. In front of me I'd like you to welcome our guests this morning. Maybe we'll do this at the end. I'd like to say good morning to Minister... I'd like to say good afternoon. It's a drinking game we're playing here in the studio. I'd like to say good afternoon to the minister responsible for delivering the project on behalf of the Tasmanian Government, Eric Abetz, Minister for Business, Industry, Resources and Transport. Minister, good afternoon to you. I want to say a special hello to Mat Hinds because of all the people here who are professionally in front of microphones and cameras, Mat is not one of them. So Mat, thank you for stepping up this afternoon. Mat is an architect from the firm Taylor and Hinds. He gave evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on how the stadium will impact the city and he's recognised internationally for his work as well as twice receiving the highest project honours at the National Institute of Architects. So Mat, as the non-professional public on a stage up here, thank you for coming out today. It's great to see you. To Kath McCann, the general manager of Marketing, Public Affairs and Social Impact with the Tassie Devils, Kath McCann, hello. And Bec Thomas, the decider. It sounds like the title of a movie, doesn't it? The Legislative Council Member for Elwick and one of a handful of politicians who, according to the way this project is now evolving, it seems will decide the fate of the stadium, maybe even in just a few weeks' time. Can you make them all feel welcome, please? And can I ask you to give yourselves a big hand. What you can't see at home if you're listening in to us on 936 ABC Radio Hobart and ABC Northern Tasmania is the wonderful crowd, 70 plus people, it's standing room only. We've got some young voices you'll hear in a couple of minutes and some older voices as well and it's great to have you all here today. Good afternoon, hello. And I just want to mention that Kylie Baxter and David Rielly are here to keep things rolling. They've got live microphones for you to speak into in just a tick. And of course, Kylie Baxter and Evan are going to be jumping straight into the studio at 5.05 this afternoon to take your texts and calls. I'm really looking forward to hearing your reaction to the next 50 minutes or so. First, we need to agree on some facts. So let's do that. If the state goes ahead with building a stadium to host a team, the benefits will be significant for Tasmanians who are passionate to see a team of their own in the AFL. The hundreds of people that will work for the teams or aspire to play for it one day, some of whom are in this room now, and the already more than 200,000 members who have put up $10 or more to lend their name to the first Tassie Devils membership roster. And the hospitality and tourism industry will be huge beneficiaries. Let's agree also that the stadium at Macquarie Point will be a massive and expensive project. It will never pay for itself. The stadium will, on any of the metrics we can see, and you can argue about those metrics, run at a loss, the scale of which will be determined over decades. Also, the stadium will dominate the Hobart skyline if you believe whoever's drawings you want to choose. They are facts. The stadium could also lead to significant urban infrastructure development, housing at the regatta grounds, an improved port, and maybe a northern suburbs transport corridor could follow if it goes ahead as well. There's a lot to talk about this afternoon. As I say, we're on Facebook Live if you want to tune in, and after the show, Evan and Kylie will be taking over from five past five. But I want to start this afternoon by talking about whether you can build a stadium at Macquarie Point at all and the challenges it'll pose if you try. Can I ask with a show of hands, how many of you have that as a primary issue of concern or that you're reflecting on? For how many of you is the actual siting of the stadium at Macquarie Point an issue that you're focused on? I think we're saying that's maybe as many as 50 per cent of the shows of hands. Sorry, David. Let's get to some of our questions then to react to that. Because the site chosen has been many things over the last 200 years and of course the centuries before. But now, with the exception of a good shed and some temporary infrastructure, it's a patch of dirt hemmed in by major roads, port infrastructure, historic buildings, and the cenotaph. So can we build there? Where's Kate Shield this morning? Hello, Kate. I'm sorry, this morning. Drinking game. Kate Shield this afternoon. Kate, your question please about the site at Macquarie Point. Kate Yes, my question is how can the proposed stadium be built on a site that's spatially inadequate, logistically fraught, and without adding further to its cost, loss of amenity for neighbours and reduced productivity? Leon Compton So for those that are just tuning in who might have missed that, how can the proposed stadium be built on a site that's spatially inadequate and logistically fraught without adding further to its cost, loss of amenity for neighbours and reduced productivity? Where's Nicholas Douglas this afternoon? Hello, Nicholas. Your question please? Nicholas My question is to the panel, what are the economic benefits of having a multipurpose stadium built right at the outskirts of the CBD? Leon Compton So effectively, the proximity, the idea that we have other stadiums, but the benefits that will flow from its proximity there. Charles Connor, where are you? Charles, can we get a question from... Charles isn't here, okay, I understand. But Charles had a question about the safe movement of people to and from the sporting venue. Is it possible to achieve that? And then Paul has a question as well about the siting of the stadium or the proposed stadium. Paul With the increased opposition of the stadium and the uncertainty of the cost of the stadium, why wouldn't the government just hand it off the road to Dean Coleman's 2.0 stadium? Leon Compton So questions about the decision to have the stadium there. And Theresa Martin, have we got Theresa here this afternoon? No, we don't have Theresa. Okay, we'll move on. But Theresa also had a question about the siting of the stadium. We've got an expert here, somebody who has prevented evidence to the Public Accounts Committee who might be able to respond to that. So I want to take it now to Mat Hinds, architect at Taylor and Hinds. Mat, fundamentally, the question of can you build a stadium at Macquarie Point on the site that's been chosen? How do you respond to that question? Mat Hinds I think that there's a couple of ways to look at it. First of all is you have to look at where this has been done elsewhere and what has been available on those sites to create a stadium environment because it's not just a building. A stadium, which is a very old type of building, thousands of years old is a type of building, requires an enormous apron to function. Even the Colosseum was built outside the Roman Forum. So the precedent is set and it's old. Across the country, every stadium, I think apart from Suncorp Stadium, has been built on an enormous available apron on public parkland next to existing enormous roadways and infrastructure to facilitate movement. What we have at Macquarie Point is a hemmed in site on every side which is far too small to support the apron that's required for a building of that size. The building itself is drawn to fit but what we're not seeing is all of the energy of that building and its servicing requirements, all its latent conditions and its impacts that are made that are required to make it work properly. The deeper question I would be asking and I have asked is if the stadium is such a critical piece for the agreement to yield an AFL team for Tasmania, why choose a site with so many latent risks? This site also has deep-seated contamination which could take years upon years to ameliorate. We're all now talking about effectively getting a planning permit through this process of legislating the approval. That is just a planning permit. It does not manifest a building. There's a whole other process to follow and evidencing that process I think will show that this project on this particular site can't be realised. Leon Compton Mat Hinds, what happens if you push ahead and try? Let's say the government is unconvinced by the points that you're making and decide to push ahead and build a stadium at Macquarie Point on that site. What is the consequence of doing that, in your professional opinion? Mat Hinds I think what I'm articulating is, and I'm actually trying to also help the government be sensible about the spatial reality of that proposal on that site. It does not fit. Leon Compton But what if you try? What if you reject the lessons from the colosseum? Maybe you look at English soccer grounds and say they have suburbs right up to the front door. Bellerive has houses just over the road on two of its four sides, for an oval, if you know what I mean. What if you try and build a stadium there? What is the consequence of doing that with a much smaller apron? Mat Hinds So again, the precedence set by Docklands, that was proposed in 2000, or finished in 1999, was opened in 2000. That came with all of the same rhetoric around a multi-purpose stadium, setting up all of the same language, pretty much word for word of what's been proposed for Macquarie Point. It is now widely considered an urban dead zone. And the reason for that is because it is a monolithic building on a small apron site. It had a larger apron when it was first constructed. It slowly crept in on all sides. It does not have the urban life. So of course you can proceed, but the issue with the Macquarie Point condition is that that constraint already exists on the site. We already know that it's a tight site and it has edges that cannot move. They are civic edges. So it is not a site that's yielding much promise for a stadium of that size. Leon Compton Just a final question and then we'll move on. What about the visual amenity? And I said, whomever's drawings you believe, the scale of the building will really dominate the Hunter Street side of the stadium. I imagine it might be looking a bit like it's somebody's bald spot. Hello to everybody in the gantries above us. Somebody's bald spot as you pull in a cruise ship into Hobart for decades to come. What about the way it will change the visual amenity of Hobart? Mat Hinds I think people are misunderstanding how enormous the building is. So the Tasman Bridge at its widest span is 46 metres above sea level. This building is 56 metres, 57 metres, including the datum. It's 10 metres higher than the apex of the Tasman Bridge. It is a gargantuan building on a point of land that slips into the river. So it doesn't make sense to cite something like that, that big, as a bulk in front of the city. Leon Compton It's been interesting to hear your perspectives this morning. The voice you can hear there is Mat Hinds, architect of Taylor and Hinds. Minister Abetz, you're hearing this. I'm sure you've received briefings about it. Are you still determined to push ahead for all of that on the site at Macquarie Point? Eric Abetz Absolutely. The Macquarie Point site is a great site. The AFL believes it is a very good economical site. We as a government believe that to be the case. Cox architects that have been engaged say quite clearly that the stadium will fit into the space, that there will be sufficient amenity around it. With respect, those that say height is a problem, etc, where were they when the Eden project was being proposed for the site, which would have been even a little bit higher than the stadium? Crickets. But because it's a stadium for AFL multipurpose, all of a sudden, the height is an issue. Leon Compton You don't agree that it will dominate the Hunter Street aspect of the Hobart skyline? Isn't that one of the realities of the choices that we would be making? Eric Abetz Of course it will. But what I'm saying is the Eden project that was put forward by the Greens in the day would have been a slightly bit higher, but there was no complaint about the height at that time. So height has now become a convenient argument for those that want to oppose the stadium. Because if it were to be, let's say, 40 metres high, who would change their mind that it would be appropriate? I suspect nobody. Leon Compton You're on 936 ABC Radio Hobart and ABC Northern Tasmania with a live crowd. We need to get through some more questions. Craig Lucas had a question. Unfortunately, Craig was unable to get here. But his question was this. Most of the debates have been about honing in on the costs and the other perceived negatives. We should also, says Craig, be selling all the benefits related to the team and stadium, something that the media omits to do. I've got to say, this is a view that we hear quite often on Mornings and on Drive and indeed across the ABC. We're hoping that that changes in part for you today. Your question, please. Alison I'd like to know how the health of Tasmanians and our health system will improve if we don't build the stadium. Leon Compton Can I just dive into that question a little bit? Is your view that you think we can do this and also we can spend the money on the team and the stadium and also work on issues around health and education and infrastructure fundamentally? Is that your question? Alison I do believe that. Obviously, there are many comments around about put the money into health instead, put the money into educational housing instead. The reality is, even if the stadium costs $1 billion, and I don't believe that it will, but even if it costs $1 billion, that's 125 days of the health budget as it currently stands. We're going to save half a year, less than half a year of money that would ordinarily go into the health system to build something that will actually create an economic windfall on the other side that we can then put into health education. Leon Compton Thank you for that. David, can you come down? Mark Brown is also here from the Yes Team, Yes Stadium group, who are prominent on Facebook, have a significant number of members. Mark, what is the point that you feel is under-discussed when it comes to the positives that might flow from a team for Tasmania if that needs to happen to get a stadium? Mark The two major positives that no one is really talking about is since the team has been announced two years ago, there's over 100 per cent uptake in Auskick. I think it's about 90 per cent just here in the state alone. Lauderdale Football Club is a prime example. They had about 50 odd juniors playing, now they've got well over 100 juniors playing. The other thing that is most important, and I think it's highlighted with Selwood's tragedy only a few days ago, is the mental health of these young future AFL stars. When they get drafted, they've got more of a chance now here of staying in the state, not having to move away from their families and their friends and probably suffer that mental health issue when they go to the mainland, where they're taken away from their family and friends at the age of 16, 17. Leon Compton Mark, it's an interesting perspective to hear. You're on 936 ABC Radio Hobart and ABC Northern Tasmania. I'm wondering if other people have benefit that doesn't get discussed, that they're passionate about when it comes to the team. You're welcome to throw your hand up and we'll come to that. This gentleman over here with his hand up, David, if you can just trot over there. We've asked Kath McCann to come along from the AFL team, the Devils, to give us the why of the team. What is her pitch as she travels around the state to talk to people about what comes if there's a stadium and by extension a team? Hello, sir, what's your name? Sam Yeah look, I'm Sam Rando. The previous speaker was talking about benefits from the team. Everyone can agree on that, but we're here to talk about the stadium. They are not benefits of a billion dollar stadium. They are benefits of having a team. I think we need to be really clear they're not the same. Leon Compton Thank you for making that point. Eric Abetz, briefly. Eric Abetz But can I be exceptionally clear on that? Without the stadium, there will not be a team. That is one of those arguments that I've got to park. If you want a team, the condition is that there will be a stadium. The stadium will be the anchor tenant of a multipurpose stadium complex at Macquarie Point. Leon Compton We'll talk more about cost in a moment. You might have heard some of the crowd were having different views about that. Kath McCann, over to you and the benefits that people talk about. At its core, Tasmania gets a team if it builds a stadium at Macquarie Point. When you go around and talk to people from Smithton to Strahan to Stanley to St Helens, tell me what it is you're talking about as the opportunity. Kath McCann I want to say thank you for the support for the team. I have to echo the Minister's comment. We can't decouple the conversation between the team and the stadium. There's a very clear rationale around that, which I can talk to. In terms of the benefits, there are many. The first thing that I think has got lost is the $360 million contribution that the AFL are making over the next 10 years. A significant portion of that goes to the club in terms of our financial sustainability. I'd like to make an assumption here. I hope we all agree that when we do enter the big league, we want to be competitive. We're not entering to make up the numbers. We deserve more than that as a place. We've waited long enough. In order to enable that success, we have to be a financially sustainable club. We've got $360 million coming from the AFL. A significant amount of that comes to the club. There's a significant portion that's going into grassroots participation and investment across the state. It's happening right now. That's already rolling out. Unfortunately, if things don't go ahead, that money will be lost to Tasmania and will be lost to communities all across the state. In terms of the organisation, we're going to be an elite sporting organisation. We'll employ 100 to 120 off-field staff and we'll have 80 athletes. We'll be an organisation with turnover of circa $55 to $60 million, money that will come back into this economy. It's really, really important that we recognise that. We'll also form a cornerstone of the professional sports industry and I'd argue a new industry here in Tasmania that will create pathway opportunities and investment in this state that's never been seen before. Another argument that's been lost is that we won't see Collingwood, we won't see Carlton, we won't see Richmond. Well, it's our home team. Of course we're going to see those clubs. They're going to be playing on our doorstep. I can tell you when 5,000 Collingwood fans come to town, I think we'll all be hiding, let's be honest. But that aside, we've got an opportunity to leverage that economic value for the whole of state. So the hospitality and tourism industry and the opportunity that sits around that is enormous. The other important opportunity, of course, is from the construction sector. We heard the master builders and civil contractors come out last week and what we know is there'll probably be 100 apprentices that actually do their apprenticeship on this building down here at Macquarie Point. This will be the lifeblood of that sector and will be such an important catalyst for further jobs for our young people, particularly off the back of the completion of the Bridgewater Bridge, which is coming soon. This economic stimulus, though, is not just about the club. When this comes to town, the indirect benefit of new businesses popping up in this state will be enormous. And that'll be cleaners, it'll be event managers, it'll be food and beverage organisations, it'll be hotels, it'll be cafes, it'll be education providers. They are going to leverage off this investment and they are going to create pathways and opportunities for our young people and most importantly, they're going to be taxpayers that contribute back into those essential services that all of us want to see improved here in Tassie. We've talked about participation. The growth in participation is enormous. The link between participation is about communities. It's about families. It's about mums and dads in Lauderdale, in Bridport, in Swansea, in Geeveston. It's about them being out and celebrating being together. Not all of those youngsters will make the big time, but by God, they'll be able to see a pathway and their aspiration and confidence to play in the big league here in their hometown will be something that I don't think we can ever quantify. The benefits of the club in terms of what it means to us are really well proven. You can go and read our submission around what the stadium economics looks like. But let's not forget it is a multi-purpose venue. It's happening because of us. We know that. But the challenge and the opportunity for all of us is to make sure that venue is full of conferences. It's full of events. It's full of concerts. It's full of weddings. It's full of graduations. Some of you might scoff at that. You might even laugh. I understand why, because we've never had this opportunity before. But as a community, it's our opportunity to maximise that, to ensure that the economic and social value is shared broadly. It is a cost. It's a big cost. There'll never be a perfect time, but it's also a massive investment. It's an investment that we can work hard to make this place better for every single Tasmanian. Leon Compton It's coming up to 28 past four. You're on 936 ABC Radio Hobart, ABC Northern Tasmania and of course broadcasting live on Facebook. You're welcome to join us as well. On the other side of news headlines, we're going to talk about cost, but Glenn's got a question about exactly that issue. For all of the many things that Kath McCann has talked about, for so many people, the cost is still front of mind. Glenn, can you set us up for what we're going to come back to after we hear the latest news from right around Tasmania this afternoon? Glen With rapidly escalating costs in the construction game, and I've worked in the construction game in three states of this nation, I would like to know how you can possibly build this stadium under $1.5 billion. Leon Compton Glen, it's a really interesting question, the cost. I think it's also true to say that the government has decided to approach this process without accurately describing the scale of the cost to Tasmanians on the way through. Certainly that's been the government's approach before Eric Abetz became the relevant minister. We'll talk to him about that on the other side. We've got more of you to ask questions about the cost coming up in just a moment, but right now, let's get off to news headlines. Jessica Moran is there. It's 4.30. Hello, Jessica. Leon Compton Let's continue talking about the cost of the AFL Stadium from the day it was really announced. The Mornings program decided editorially that the government seemed to be reluctant to talk fully about the expected costs of the stadium. I know that for many of you that has been an issue. We learned only the other day that the promise of $375 million and not a red cent more in the last state election campaign actually meant that hundreds of millions of dollars more could potentially need to be borrowed and expectedly need to be borrowed to make this project come true. Cathy, your question. Kathy Hi, I know we're here to talk about the stadium and you've talked about rubbery figures. My question is about all the other costs that come with having a team and a stadium. So the on costs, it's going to cost whatever it costs to build the stadium wherever it goes. But where is all the money coming from to pay for ongoing maintenance of a stadium, the cleaning, all the rest of it, plus all the on costs that go with having the team itself? Leon Compton And we're about to get to Bec Thomas who's got a bucket load of exactly those questions. Over to you, sir. Richard Richard, my question really starts off with cost. Just going through what is the government available information, $1.25 billion seems to be the later figure. The government is severely in debt at this point in time. It will all be on borrowings. That means after 25 years, that's $2.4 billion. Leon Compton Okay, I can't do your numbers fast enough in my head to make sure they stack up, but I'll go with your figures, sir. I mean, it's going to come at a significant cost. Some of you will decide, you know something, that cost is worth it. I want to say good day to Bernadette who's got a cost question. Hello, Bernadette. Bernadette Hello, thank you. My question is how can the cost of this stadium be justified when we have a housing crisis leading to people sleeping in parks and cars? We've got huge wait lists at the hospital. We've got ambulances ramping waiting to get into emergency. Across the state, we've got a 50 per cent functional illiteracy rate. How can we justify spending that much money on a stadium? Leon Compton It'll be a live question that Bec Thomas has to consider in only potentially as soon as a few weeks' time when special legislation comes in front of the parliament. We'll get to Bec Thomas in just a moment. We're coming back. You've been mute really since the start of the show. Matt has a question. Matt, hello. Matt Hello. I'm going to go as an undecided on this and one of few based on the sheet. I think it's worth mentioning the integrated draft assessment reports numbers, which is probably the most accurate estimate we have now, notwithstanding the government dismissed that. 2.62 billion is the estimate over 10 years of both capital costs and the debt and debt servicing costs of 76 million per annum that would be accumulated. But that was a conservative estimate. They said that both the costs and the benefits had a lot of unrealised elements. Leon Compton And so we might need to consider this as a state. Bec Thomas, to what extent are you considering that as a member for the Legislative Council in Elwick? You've got a whole list of things you want the government to answer before voting on their special legislation. Where does cost sit in all of that and what is most important? Bec Thomas Yeah, cost absolutely is one of the front of mind questions that I have and I really want the government to be open and transparent with members of Parliament and the community about what the real costs are, both of the capital infrastructure development costs and the operating costs ongoing. I can totally appreciate the economic and social benefits that having an AFL team and having a stadium can bring to Tasmania if it's done properly. And if I'm making a decision with my heart, Tasmania deserves a team. Tasmania deserves to have the infrastructure that other states have. We should not be the poor cousin of the mainland. We deserve to be aspirational. However, as elected members to Parliament, I believe we're not elected just to make decisions with our hearts. We have to make decisions with our heads. We have to make decisions based on fact and feeling. And weighing up both the economic impacts on future generations to come and the planning legitimacy of the stadium at Macquarie Point are the two key things that I need to be convinced about when it comes to making a decision. To the cost specifically, we need to be convinced the government needs to provide advice and information to demonstrate that the stadium is a viable business proposition. You mentioned Leon, most stadiums don't run at a profit. It's likely to cost the taxpayer ongoing every year in operating costs and depreciation and maintenance and we need to know what those costs are going to be. We need to know what the cost of realising this dream of having an AFL team and having a stadium is going to be to future generations and is whatever that cost is acceptable, an acceptable price to pay to realise the dream. Leon Compton Will you as a Legislative Councillor be expecting all of that information to be modelled out to you before you make a decision in the Legislative Council about this new process that will be bypassing the Tasmanian Planning Commission and other organisations? Bec Thomas Yes, absolutely I will. The government will need to demonstrate how it is going to pay for the upfront development of a stadium, what it is actually going to cost. Stadiums Tasmania will need to demonstrate that there is a viable operating model for the stadium to be a viable business proposition. One of the things that I think the stadium relies on to be a viable business proposition is to have cricket played at the stadium. That's a question that's outstanding at the moment and I don't believe Parliament will be in a position to be able to answer that question of whether it's a viable business proposition until we know the outcome of that. Leon Compton Let's talk about that issue of can cricket be played at the stadium. Let's assume that cricket is a critical tenant. Hobart Hurricanes games, potentially test matches, potentially one day, potentially more of the women's competition that is increasingly popular as well. On 8 May, Cricket Australia sent a letter to I believe it was the Planning Commission which I had a look at this morning. It said if there is a roof as proposed on the stadium, it doesn't look like we will be able to support cricket there. You need to consider either a stadium with no roof or one that retracts or another solution. Eric Abetz, is cricket going to be played at this stadium? Eric Abetz We are currently working through those issues with Cricket Australia. Ann Beach might have more detail in relation to that. We want to make this as multi-purpose a stadium as possible and cricket is one of the many potentials for this facility. I don't know if Anne Beach can give us some detail of her discussions with Cricket Australia. Leon Compton We'll come to Anne Beach in just a moment. Here's another question for you around cost, Eric Abetz. When 23,000 people file into this proposed stadium and pay their money for the seven games a year, I think there will likely be sellouts every game. Who gets the money? Is that going to go to helping Tasmanians pay off the debt? Because the Tasmanian Devils team will have their hand out as well and be hoping that money is coming to them. Who will get the money? Eric Abetz And where do you think the Tassie Devils will be spending their money? In the Tasmanian economy, employing our fellow Tasmanians, stimulating our economy. Even the lord mayor of the Hobart City Council had an analysis and they accepted, and I'll be corrected if I'm wrong, but I think $179 million per annum just for the Hobart footprint would be one of the benefits of having the stadium. Leon Compton So who gets the stadium money? Who gets the admission money then for 23,000 seats to go in to see the game? Eric Abetz Look, undoubtedly these things will be shared with the stadium to run this. Leon Compton Allow him to finish. How will it work? Eric Abetz This is indicative of somebody who's already made up their mind no matter what he's said. But sufficient to say that the stadium will undoubtedly receive monies. The AFL team, of course, will receive some money as in the event that there's a concert there, the performer will undoubtedly attract some of the gate taking. But there will be sale of beverages, etc, happening there as well. So it's not just the ticket sale. Leon Compton Bec Thomas, how much of your questions relates to the business model, how it will operate? How much rent the Tasmanian government will get back for spending $105 million plus building a high performance centre at Kingborough? How much of what you want to know is based around questions like that? Bec Thomas They are critical questions that remain to be answered. And in order to be able to make an informed decision, I will expect that information on the operating model of the stadium will be provided as part of the package provided with the enabling legislation. We don't have a draft bill even to consider at this point, let alone a bill before the parliament for consideration. I'm not in a position ever where I'll indicate how I'll vote on something without even seeing the legislation I'm voting on. I expect now the government has abandoned the POS process, there needs to be some process by which we are informed as members of parliament on issuing a DA. And then as anyone who has ever been issued with a DA knows, once you get a DA to build a house or some other structure, you then need a building permit, you need a plumbing permit. Often it comes with conditions. We don't have information on what those conditions are going to look like. There is so much information still to be provided to help inform our decision and importantly, as well as cost and conditions, the governance structure is important. The governance framework for who will be signing off on those conditions. I think it's really important that Tasmanians understand that if this legislation passes through the parliament, it is issuing a DA to proceed with a development based on conditions. There could be a number of points at which one of those conditions isn't met and the project could fail. So if this passes through the parliament, it's not definitely going to happen. There are going to be a number of steps that need to be taken, a number of conditions to be met. Leon Compton And so there's still a lot of water to go under the bridge. It's 17 to five. You're on 936 ABC Radio Hobart ABC North Tas. It's our live conversation about the stadium, asking the questions that you want answered. Kylie Baxter's got more traffic for those of you out on the roads today. Leon Compton In front of a live audience this afternoon, broadcasting to you from the studios of ABC Radio Hobart across ABC North Tas and from 505 this afternoon with Evan and Kylie and really looking forward to getting your feedback. Angela, are you one of those that think the deal should be renegotiated? Angela Yes. Yeah. So my question is, given the divided level of public support for the stadium and in light of Tasmania's financial situation with record high debt and deficit and not a government plan yet to address that, why won't the Tasmanian government and the AFL demonstrate some leadership and integrity, which we as the public expect of our elected leaders and a professional code? Why won't they demonstrate leadership and integrity and renegotiate the deal so that Tasmanians can have the team that we want, deserve and have already started planning for and park, to use your words Mr Abetz, park the requirement for a commercially viable stadium until we are in better economic times? Leon Compton It's an interesting one. Only today, Rebecca Pentland and Miriam Beswick came out and said, these are members who are now independents, formerly Jacqui Lambie Network candidates, said it's time for the Federal Government to get involved and help the state and the AFL renegotiate a deal. I wonder what sort of sway they have given their role in helping the Government with numbers on the floor. G'day there, what's your name? Rowan Rowan. My question is to Minister Abetz and Kath McCann of the Devils. Have efforts been made to renegotiate the deal and ensure we get the Devils teams regardless of the third stadium outcome? Leon Compton Eric Abetz, have you called the AFL? Has the Premier who signed this deal actually called the AFL and said, can we have a conversation about the timelines, the scale, the location? Have you tried to renegotiate the deal? Eric Abetz There have been ongoing discussions as you might imagine between the AFL, the Premier. I've met with some of the officials, the Premier has as well. These are discussions that keep going, they are of a commercial nature. But look, we have a deal that is in front of everybody. There are timelines in that deal and if we want a team, we need to follow those timelines and with that comes a stadium within a particular time frame. That's what we're working towards. Is there the possibility of renegotiating? Well, you never say never, but the deal is there for all to see. That is what we are pursuing. And the good news is that whilst the state opposition here was against it, they've now signed up to it. So you've got bipartisan support, Liberal, Labor, State and Federal. And for those who say, and if I might briefly lay on say, for those that say, I'll spend the $375 million elsewhere because of literacy rates or whatever, what do you then say to the $360 million being withdrawn or $375 million being withdrawn by the AFL, the $240 million being withdrawn by Federal Labor if this project doesn't go ahead? And so the question is, can we afford for the stadium not to go ahead? And the answer to that has to be, no, we cannot afford for it not to go ahead. Leon Compton 936 ABC Radio Hobart, ABC Northern Tasmania and broadcasting on Facebook Live. We've got a live audience. My guests this morning, I should mention Eric Abetz, Kath McCann, Mat Hinds and Bec Thomas. What's your name? Joy Joy. Leon Compton Joy, your question, please? Joy I just want to know where the rhetoric of the AFL bullying us into this deal when there's been three reports passed down, one by Tasmanian, one by the AFL and another by an economic Hansen report. So where is the bullying? Leon Compton So Joy, is it your contention, just so I understand, that nobody's been bullied here and this is an agreement we've gone to of our own free will? Joy Well, there's reports to say that. And what is the true meaning of bullying? Leon Compton If the Federal Government got involved and said, look, we'll help push back the timelines, maybe we'll lobby the 18 AFL presidents, given the Federal Government's involvement in their operations in one way or the other, and maybe help with more of the costs. Eric Abetz, would you be open to that? Would that help? Something of a jam that the Government finds itself in now with this project. Eric Abetz Look, a hugely hypothetical question which is exceptionally difficult to answer, but I've always gotten the answer which is yes, when the question is, can we do with more federal money? Absolutely. I will always be in favour of that. There is no such thing as a Canberra dollar spent in Tasmania which is wasted. Leon Compton Can I ask somebody to get over to that listener over there, David? You've got somebody just on the other side of the room there on 936 ABC Radio Hobart, ABC Northern Tasmania. Just reminding you again, 505 Kylie and also Evan, jump into the chair and take your text and calls. Hello there, what's your name please? Sue My name's Sue. Is it not possible, we have wanted a team for many, many years and the AFL has always refused it, always, saying in fact I think Andrew Demetriou has said we will never have a team in Tasmania. Is it not possible that the AFL have set such onerous conditions so that we do not get a team because we don't have a stadium and then they can say it's all our fault? Leon Compton I'll let that question hang unless someone, Kath McCann, you want to respond briefly and then we'll move on to some of the young voices. Kath McCann There's a couple of comments that I'd make and these are factual. The first fact is that it was the Tasmanian AFL taskforce that recommended the stadium in Hobart, 23,000 seats, for the economic viability of the club and that was backed up by the Colin Carter report and then a deal was struck between the AFL and the Tasmanian government to that effect. So we actually brought that discussion on. It was the Tasmanian AFL taskforce that originally put that forth and I think that's really important to the comment in respect to bullying. I know how we feel about the AFL. They've starved us of this dream for a very, very long time but they also know what financial success and sustainability for a club needs to look like. It's economics. 50 per cent of our revenue as a not-for-profit operating club will come from stadium revenues. It is absolutely essential that we've got the capacity and the arrangement in place through the lease that we'll have with Stadiums Tasmania to be able to sustain our club, to be able to perform. There is a direct correlation between financial sustainability and on-field success. I won't say it's guaranteed but I can tell you it's a direct correlation. So I know it feels like the AFL have starved us but they actually are setting this club up for success. They want to see it sustainable. They don't want us putting our hand out. We're better than that Tasmania. We are better and in order to be able to compete in what is a big, big national competition, we need to be well equipped with the infrastructure to support this club financially, sustainably into the future. Leon Compton Just on to the cost question that many people have. You're saying 50 per cent of the revenue that you'll be generating in this club will come from gate takings, ticket sales, membership sales, on game day getting into the ground. Kath McCann Yeah, so... Leon Compton If that's true, what percentage of the actual ticket revenue generated by the stadium will that be? Kath McCann The way in which the agreement will work is that Stadiums Tasmania will be the operating organisation of the stadium and they're a statutory authority of government. We, as a tenant, one of many, will have a lease arrangement in place with Stadiums Tasmania. It's that agreement that will allow us to generate revenue from game day. The types of things that we'll generate revenue from are things like ticketing, membership sales, advertising, all the things that we activate on game day. That arrangement for our club is incredibly important because it will generate the income. We're a not-for-profit so all the income we generate will cycle back into the organisation. Leon Compton But also you'll be paying a healthy lease fee, I would assume, that would allow Tasmanians to pay down the stadium. Kath McCann We will be paying. Importantly, on that point, Leon, Stadiums Tasmania also earn income. This is the commercial model that Bec's pointing to. Stadiums Tasmania will have memberships for the stadium. They'll have pourage rights. They'll have advertising. They'll also have a ticketing arrangement. They'll earn income from every single tenant, every single patron that goes through this venue. In terms of how that's split, Bec asked a really reasonable question about understanding that, the commercial model, the income that the stadium generates in order to obviously make payments on debt. Leon Compton It's coming up to 7 to 5. You're on 936 ABC Radio Hobart, ABC Northern Tasmania. Ben Colson is a Tigers player with the Kingborough under-16s. G'day Ben. Ben G'day. My question today is mainly for the anti-stadium people who are too stuck up to see the positives really. When you think about it, everyone's worrying about the money and that. When we get the stadium, it will be used for more than just football. The profit will be a lot more at the end of the day. It's a great opportunity for people like me and the boys I'm here with today. It's not just that. It's also the employment, the jobs that this stadium will create. The non-stadium supporters just refuse to see the positives. Leon Compton You'd like to hear, and you think younger people that you talk to, train with, play with, would like to hear more of a can-do attitude when it comes to delivering this stadium? Ben Absolutely. I don't really get where all this no energy comes from. Leon Compton Ben, thanks for coming along. I want to say g'day as well to Lily Mills who's in the junior program. Are you in the junior program Lily? Lily I'm with the TALAS program, Tasmania Academy of Leadership and Sport. Leon Compton Lily, your question please. Lily My question is, without the stadium or without the team, how else could the state offer the same standard of opportunities that the Tasmania Football Club has created and will continue to create that haven't been possible here before and with a focus of keeping young Tasmanians in their home state? Leon Compton I just want to let that sit for a minute because I wonder how that feels listening at home, watching Facebook Live, thinking about that. You heard from Ben and Lily and they would like to have considered what it will mean for them to have a team that will be paid off and let's face it, most of the debt or the cost of the stadium will fall to their generation if they want to take on that responsibility should they also get the opportunity. I wonder what happens to your perspective when you think about those that are growing up and coming through, Auskick, the under-8s and so on right now. Does it change your view? You're on 936 ABC Radio, ABC Northern Tasmania. It's coming up to four minutes to news at five o'clock and straight after news we'll have Kylie Baxter and Evan Wallace jumping into the chair to take your texts and calls. Where are my team going with the microphones? I'll get down to this gentleman down in the front row there, David. Mat Hinds I'd like to know why a roof, when Hobart is the second driest capital city in Australia. Leon Compton I also want to know from Mat who's up the end there, we've had you quiet for the last little while. Mat, my understanding is fixed roof comes with a certain cost. Sliding roof, as Cricket Australia said they want considered, comes with a much greater cost. I've heard that somewhere. Is that right? Mat Hinds That is right. I think also the responses to the questions that have been asked by you guys needs an answer. Tassie's been playing football and aspiring to play at a national level since the 1870s. We have so deeply earned the cultural right to play the game in the way, at scale that needs to be played. What has to be understood is that the AFL, I don't think they're as magnanimous as they are making out to be. They have asked us to climb a hill that is so steep, each individual person in this room pays an order of magnitude 10 times more than any other taxpayer has paid for AFL infrastructure. The other thing that's important to understand is that the Docklands Stadium, when it was built, paid for by the public purse, cost nearly a billion dollars. The AFL bought that for 200 million in 2016. We have to understand that we're giving them a piece of land, their sole proprietorship over that land and access to that land. It's one of the most premium civic sites in the country. We have to see past the rhetoric. We have to understand that what we're doing is setting it up so that your generation is going to be paying for those things into the future and the numbers aren't invisible, they are there. The AFL is sitting back, watching us all argue about this and lecturing us about how we just need to get on and get the team. Well, it's difficult here, it's hard. There's only 500,000 of us, not 5 million. So, sorry, what was the original question? Leon Compton The original question was... No, this is a conversation that we're going to have to now take to five past five. And that means you're going to need to tune in to Evan Wallace on Northern Drive or Kylie Baxter on Southern Drive as we take things back to 936 ABC Radio Hobart and ABC Northern Tasmania. Can I say thank you to all of you who have come along this afternoon? Can you give yourselves a round of applause, please? APPLAUSE Can I please thank the panel as well? To Minister Eric Abetz, to Kath McCann, to Mat Hinds and to Bec Thomas, thank you to all of you. APPLAUSE And to all of the many technical staff that have helped make this happen today. There's buckloads of people behind the cameras, behind the microphones, and who have made this event happen. It's a conversation that continues on ABC Local Radio and, in fact, in all our colleagues right across the ABC. Our journalists will be talking about this story for days, weeks, months, years to come. Thank you to all of you for coming out as the sun starts to set across Tasmania this evening on 936 ABC Radio Hobart, ABC Northern Tasmania. Tune in to Evan and Kylie up next to continue the conversation. Have a great night.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
ABC Radio Hobart hosts Change My Mind: The Stadium Debate
Tasmania Mornings presenter Leon Compton and Hobart Drive presenter Kylie Baxter are hosting Change My Mind: The Stadium Debate. The forum panel includes:
