Wed, 6:30amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 6:30amHobart, you are getting that stadium, whether you like it or not(Macquarie Point Development Corporation)

We will end today’s live coverage of the upper house debate and vote on the order to approve the proposed stadium at Macquarie Point, here, with Dean Harriss signalling his YES vote.

In case you missed it — the stadium has enough votes to pass once the official tally is taken.

That means the stadium is a goer — and by extension, the AFL and AFLW team, the Tasmania Devils.

(AFL photos)

The upper house debate will resume tomorrow and we will be blogging again, with the news likely to become official at some point.

Thank you for sending your comments in (we see you, Queen Mary), my apologies if we did not get to yours.

You can continue to watch the Legislative Council speakers at the debate via this link.

Please join us again tomorrow.

Bye!

(Macquarie Point Development Corporation)Wed, 6:28amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 6:28amHarriss will vote YES for stadium

Wrapping up his speech, Dean Harriss confirmed he would be voting in favour of the stadium.

This brings the tally of upper house members voting YES to nine, which is more than enough to approve the stadium.

“Money is a big problem but sometimes you have to reach to the stars,” he said.

“There have been plenty of analogies bandied around but I can’t help thinking the one most appropriate was President Kennedy’s 1961 announcement that America would put man on the moon.

“That was outrageously ambitious way back when a lot of air travel was still in propeller-driven planes. It was also outrageously expensive but Kennedy took the plunge and eight years later Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.

“I see the Tasmania Devils as our moon walk and the stadium, warts and all, as the way to get there.”

Wed, 6:21amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 6:21am

‘Reminiscent of the brutal colonial land grab’

Dean Harriss has summarised a range of arguments against the stadium as he continues his speech to the Legislative Council.

“The abrupt displacement of the widely supported MONA vision for an Aboriginal truth and reconciliation park without consultation or consent was reminiscent of the brutal colonial land grab, the deadly consequences of which it was intended to commemorate,” he said.

“The dismissal of concerns of veterans’ organisations over the impact of the stadium on the cenotaph disrespects the sacrifice of those who were killed fighting for our country and the freedoms we enjoy.”

“Nevertheless, I accept that the proposal … currently before the parliament is the one we have.

“I accept that a vote against the order is likely to result in a withdrawal of the Devil’s licence and the end of the AFL dream.”

Wed, 6:05amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 6:05am

Harriss emotionally refers to social media comments about late father

In the opening moments of his speech to the upper house, Dean Harriss showed some emotion as he recounted some recent commentary on social media.

The comments referred to his late father Paul Harriss, who was a long-term Tasmanian politician who was involved in the local football scene.

“When the debate has heated up a little bit, it has been suggested by people through social media that my father would be turning in his grave if he knew that I might not support the stadium,” Mr Harriss said.

“Having spent considerable time with Dad over many years, and knowing him better than most, I can assure those people he wouldn’t be turning in his grave.

“In fact, he would expect me to do precisely what I have been elected to do — review, scrutinise, provide checks and balances on government proposals without fear or favour.

“I am aware that I’m not Robinson Crusoe but to say that the challenges have been confronting would be putting it mildly.”

(ABC News: Mackenzie Heard)Wed, 5:56amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 5:56am’I condemn the order that is before the council’

In her closing comments, Cassy O’Connor urged those opposed to the stadium to not lose hope.

“I know there will be heartbreak across the island if this order passes and genuine fear for the feature when the weight of debt and underinvestment in our people becomes increasingly and painfully clear,” the Greens MLC said.

“I say to those people do not lose heart.

She likened the stadium’s expected approval with the story of the Bell Bay Pulp Mill in the Tamar Valley, a controversial project which got the green tick from Parliament but never went ahead.

“It was also vehemently opposed by a significant majority either on environmental or probity grounds,” she said.

“It has never been built and the Tamar Valley today remains a place where the air is clean, the vistas are many and glorious and the winemakers grape still produce the finest cool climate wines in the country.

“The struggle for our city, our people and our future — it continues and Mr President, I’ll drink to that.

“I condemn the order that is before the council.”

Independent MLC Dean Harriss, who has remained tight-lipped on his views, is now on the floor.

Wed, 5:42amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 5:42am

Debate resumes off the back of afternoon tea

Proceedings are flowing again following that short break for afternoon tea.

Cassy O’Connor is still on the floor, reflecting on how deeply the debate has divided the state.

“We’ve been shafted by the AFL who have asked this of Australia’s smallest and poorest state,” she said.

“It is bordering on tragic that something we’ve all longed for has become so divisive because it has been attached … to the stadium.

“Something that could have and should have united us, has divided us.

“It is just highly regrettable that the stadium and the team have been so cynically and inexplicably linked — it didn’t have to be that way.

“[The AFL Task Force] found that a Tasmanian team could be viable and sustainable and … they did not link it to a brand-new stadium.

“They indicated [a new stadium] could be a longer-term aspiration.”

Wed, 5:30amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 5:30am

Stadium debate goes lunar

Just as we all expected, the debate over Hobart’s stadium briefly drifted into a comparison with the Cold War space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Rewinding back an hour or so, when Casey Hiscutt was on the floor, he began explaining an anecdote which took things in an unexpected direction.

“I heard a story once, it was in response to people claiming the moon landing was a hoax,” Mr Hiscutt said.

“Despite the supposed evidence of shadows and waving flags, the story goes that the largest evidence that the Americans successfully walked on the moon was that the Soviet Union didn’t deny it.

“This is a long way of saying if the Labor party has any inkling that this was a bad decision, they would have jumped on it at the earliest opportunity, by definition they are the opposition.

“I think there is no greater evidence in support of the stadium then the fact it has achieved bipartisan support in Parliament.”

With that, the chamber returned to the more familiar gravity of Tasmania’s stadium debate.

(Supplied: NASA)Wed, 5:24amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 5:24am’The best thing to ever happen to Hobart’

Chris:

I don’t envy the politicians who have to make this choice. It is a large burden to carry that will affect generations to come, but I can’t see how the no voters expect Tasmania to get out of the rut it is in without doing something radical such as this. Whatever we have been doing clearly isn’t working. Good on the yes voters for having the guts to try and get this State out of the Dark Ages.

David:

The greatest losers will be all the other sports – the ones that have done Tasmania proud for decades – swimming; rowing; cycling; hockey; netball ; athletics – largely Olympic sports that always need state govt help especially for facilities. Watch the commercialized sports get even more funding – football; basketball; cricket; netball etc. They are the winners. The Olympic sports will certainly suffer – getting only the financial crumbs despite their extraordinary achievements now for a long time. Alas. The Bec Thomas tears shows the inner sadness she felt for those who will now miss out.

Ryan:

This is going to be so much fun explaining to my elderly mother why she cant get the life saving care she requires in Tasmania, but we can still afford a billion dollar stadium.

Graham Pike:

I believe the Stadium should be built at Macquarie Point. It will be an important part of Tasmania’s Sporting Infrastructure.

Andrew:

Every single professional opinion has been against building this thing. I guess sense has no bearing anymore when you can just lie to people and say it’ll be good.

Les:

Build it quick, before more negative commentors speak. A state government looks at fiscal policy and finances differently to a middle class household.

Stephen: 

A stadium – while Tasmanians are living in their cars!? Without Tasmanians being onboard – this appalling project will go the way of the Pulp Mill (which was also backed by legislation). Nothing short of EXTORTION from the AFL and a government that’s obviously happy to capitulate to it – using OUR taxes!

Ryan:

This will be the best thing to ever happen to Hobart. Bring it on!

Disappointed:

When push comes to shove, those (Bec Thomas) ‘safeguards’ aren’t going to prevent anything. The government has its green light, nothing will stop them now.

Wed, 5:16amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 5:16am

Aboriginal recognition at stadium is ‘black cladding’

Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor quoted Tasmanian Aboriginal historian Gregory Lehman who described the proposed Aboriginal recognition at the stadium as “black cladding”.

Tasmania is the only state without an Aboriginal cultural centre, and one was once proposed for the centre of development at Macquarie Point.

And as recently as 2022, an Aboriginal truth and reconciliation park was proposed for the site — in the middle of now-cancelled housing.

Consultation was under way with Reconciliation Tasmania, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania over its design, but it was ended with the arrival of the stadium in 2022.

An “Aboriginal culturally-informed zone” is now proposed for a piece of land between the stadium and highway, reduced in size multiple times for practice cricket wickets, and then to accommodate for the relocated heritage-listed goods shed.

Parliament last month heard the Aboriginal zone is now the emergency evacuation point.

Members of the Tasmanian Planning Commission panel described the way the government had consulted with Aboriginal stakeholders as “disrespectful” and “tokenistic”.

Wed, 5:13amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 5:13amLabor labelled ‘craven’ for their pro-stadium stance

In the final moments of her speech before the afternoon break, Cassy O’Connor unleashed upon the Tasmanian Labor party for their support of the stadium.

“There’s been particular criticism of the Tasmanian Labor party and its craven capitulation on this issue,” she said.

“Ever since Rebecca White lost the leadership, Labor has been as shameless as the Liberals and the Mercury newspaper in their unconditional support of this stadium.

“I have spoken to numerous Labor members, some former sitting members, who are disgusted.

“This issue has split the party, because Tasmanian Labor is writing this government and the AFL a blank cheque.”

The debate will resume around 4:30pm, following a short break.

As a bonus fact, Ms O’Connor once attempted to scrap the afternoon tea break from upper house proceedings — a move which was rejected by her colleagues.

Wed, 5:04amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 5:04am

And more comments!

Harry:

Sick of all these comments about how the stadium will affect the skyline or aesthetic of Hobart. The renders of the stadium look incredibly gorgeous and I can’t wait to visit from WA to attend there.

Jaz:

This stadium is going to be a boon for our state.

FizzleFeatures:

All so intent on their own ego’s. That’s all that the inadequate Premier is intent on leaving Tasmanian children – a huge debt and inadequate health, education, housing and devastated environment to give a big boost to corporate entities pillaging this state. Each individual voting in the Senate (supposedly our house of checks and balances) will be forever targeted as NOT LISTENING TO THEIR OWN CONSTITUENTS and will hopefully be lost in the dust and detritus of history. Signed a previous lifelong Labor voter that is standing strong with the GREENS and the foresight!

Ryan:

Well, sir, there’s nothing on earth Like a genuine, bona fide AFL, roof-topped stadium What’d I say? Stadium! What’s it called? Stadium! That’s right! Stadium Stadium Stadium Stadium I hear those things are very pricey But regecting it makes our election dicey Is there a chance that it won’t fit? Not on your life, my silly git What about us brain-dead slobs? You’ll be given cushy jobs Were you sent here by the Devil? No, good sir, I’m on the level The ring came off my James Boag can Take my pen knife, my good man I swear it’s Tassie’s only choice Throw up your hands and raise your voice Stadium What’s it called? Stadium Once again Stadium But our health care is still all cracked and broken Sorry, lefties, the mob has spoken Stadium! Stadium! Stadium! Stadium! Stadi, d’oh!

Saul Darby:

This is looking like fantastic news. The narrow focus of the ‘no’ lobby completely fails to recognise the myriad diverse benefits this investment will bring to tourism, employment pathways, growth, construction, and the development of new secondary industries (sports medicine, coaching pathways, concert or event management etc., etc.). This is so much more than a stadium or a football team; it’s an opportunity to create an economic engine beyond exploitative industries like salmon farming, and finally attract investment and an increased tax base to a place that’s been on economic life support for decades. If the health and education unions want more spending on hospitals and schools, then that money has to come from somewhere sustainable.

Wed, 4:59amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 4:59am

O’Connor condemns ‘publicly-funded monstrosity’

The Greens MLC has continued to use her speech in the upper house to trash the proposed stadium.

“We all know after a year of meticulous and methodical assessment the [Tasmanian Planning Commission] panel recommended the project not proceed,” Cassy O’Connor said.

“We all know the likely benefits according to the experts will be less than half the cost.

“Overwhelmingly, the benefits will go to the AFL and gambling businesses, and the cost will be borne by the people we were elected to represent and their children and their grandchildren for generations.

She then turned her attention to the assurance that Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff gave to secure the vote of independent Bec Thomas.

“We all know this publicly-funded monstrosity will have massive cost blowouts,” Ms O’Connor said.

“The Premier’s promise today of an $875 million cap on the state’s contribution is meaningless.

“He’s made such promises multiple times before — at the 2023 election it was ‘$375 million … and not one red cent more’.”

Wed, 4:58amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 4:58am

Bias in the comments?

Can I just say, and I know you are probably posting comments that reflect what you are receiving and a vast majority are clearly against the stadium, but you aren’t posting many, if any, comments that support the decision? I assume there are some out there?
(For what it’s worth, I’m largely on the fence and probably err toward the no. But just something I’ve noticed)

– Simon

Hey Simon, I can hand-on-heart say I have made no effort to manufacture a swing one way or the other regarding the comments posted today in this blog.

Obviously there are people very much against this project, as well as though who are in the ‘just build it’ camp — and both have been putting their case forward.

Thanks for asking!

Wed, 4:49amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 4:49am

Your comments

Dave:

Yee ha

EF:

Tasmania has been sold out to the AFL and let down by its government. The AFL will reap all the profits, and Tasmanians incur all the debt. Talk about getting the fuzzy end of the lollipop

Colin:

The support for stadium is fantastic news. some short term financial pain will result in long financial gain and will assist our younger generation to secure their goals. …

Lars weustenfeld:

When Tasmania becomes bankrupt we should strip all these politicians of their pension’s and other perks until the money for this disaster is repaid.

Anne:

I wish we could hold politicians accountable for the vote they put in today? Want to have affordable housing? Too bad. Need medical specialist care in due course? Sorry, you have to wait here in Tasmania and don’t travel to the mainland. Your girls need to get changed for sports? Well, they can continue to do so in the car because there’s a lack of facilities across Australia. The numbers and facts are on the table. It won’t return value for money. It’ll blow out in cost and in timeframe – like any other project in Tasmania. Big acts won’t come because the logistic costs are too high, not even a gold plated stadium would make them come. Politicans will vote on the promise of a promise of a promise. And I just wish we could held them accountable for the mountain of debt that’s to come and will cripple the state.

Tony:

It’s a bit disheartening to see so much negativity in the comments. Let’s stay positive – hopefully everyone can have a lovely day, whatever the outcome. Personally, I’m really excited about the stadium going ahead. It means a lot to me, my family, my friends, and my community to see politicians, regardless of their political persuasion, putting differences aside and supporting the stadium.

Joel:

Build It, Build It 🙂

Alexander:

Speaking as someone from the ‘younger generation’ that everyone appears to be concerned about, I am personally excited to see progress in a state that often feels stuck in the mud. What I would hate to see in 10 years time looking back at this decision, is a city that continues to have poor housing and health outcomes, but also one with no AFL team and an empty block of land remaining at Macquarie Point.

Lindy Mabbatt:

Yes to the Tassie Devils footy team. I am one of 200,000 members. No to the AFL wielding so much political influence on State politics that they have been allowed to bully Tasmania into building a new stadium in a place of the AFLs choosing, regardless of whether it’s an appropriate site, whether it’s affordable or likely to be of value to Tasmania in the long term. AFL football has been successfully played in Tasmania for years, with biggish crowds being able to attend at existing venues, particularly for the Hawks in Launceston. What’s wrong with upgrading current facilities until the Tasmanian team is established? The AFl hasn’t foisted a demand like this on other States, which were less receptive to the Aussie rules code, so why Tasmania, where Aussie Rules rules?

Wed, 4:48amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 4:48am

O’Connor says she has ‘ditched’ original speech

In the wake of Casey Hiscutt’s confirmation, Cassy O’Connor says she has abandoned the original speech she had written for today.

“[It was] a speech more hopeful that commonsense would prevail,” she said.

“That the evidence and clear community feeling would speak for themselves — I’ve ditched that speech now.

“We know now how the vote will almost certainly go.

“So laying out all the evidence — the irrefutable, independent, expert evidence — for why this order should be resoundingly rejected seems moot now.”

Wed, 4:43amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 4:43am

Stadium approval ‘trashes’ extraordinary location, O’Connor says

Cassy O’Connor has begun her speech by speaking about the impact the stadium will have directly on Macquarie Point.

“This great city … it’s heart is it’s people,” she said.

“That heart beats most tangibly along the waterfront, from Salamanca to Sullivan’s Cove.

“An extraordinary and rare place, rich in Aboriginal and European heritage.

“An urban landscape like no other anywhere.

“A rareness and values that this order [to approve the stadium] wilfully disregards and trashes.”

Wed, 4:36amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 4:36am

What ‘safeguards’ were agreed to by Bec Thomas?

In her speech early today, independent Bec Thomas outlined the “safeguards” she had receiving in writing from Premier Jeremy Rockliff which were enough to help secure her YES vote.

They include an $875 million cap for state government expenditure.

This is already the state’s funding commitment — so any blowouts at all will mean the government seeks extra funds from the Commonwealth, the AFL or the private sector.

And if that’s not forthcoming, then the scope of the stadium will be “reduced”.

There’s also a state funding cap of $105 million on the AFL high performance centre at Kingston.

A lifecycle asset management plan will be developed within six months of the main contractor being determined; the government has not said what ongoing subsidies will be required for the stadium.

It’s added an extra layer of oversight for any changes to conditions on the stadium — they were previously the responsibility of a single person: the secretary of State Growth.

There’s also $105 million over four years for the Active Tasmania infrastructure fund — it totals the same amount as the government is spending on the AFL high performance centre.

The safeguards include a “means-tested affordable ticketing framework”.

But is it binding on the government?

Ms Thomas said accountability to these dot points will be monitoring through the project’s oversight committee, and a parliamentary committee.

“I think that is as binding as we can get,” she said.

Wed, 4:35amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 4:35am

Cassy O’Connor takes the floor

After that bombshell, we are now hearing from Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor.

Her party has been staunchly against the proposed stadium, so expect it to be quite a contrast compared to Casey Hiscutt’s speech.

(ABC News: Mackenzie Heard)Wed, 4:34amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 4:34amThe Hobart stadium vote is set to PASS

It is not official, but that is just a formality.

The stadium at Hobart’s Macquarie Point will be built.

And, it seems, the Tasmania Devils AFL and AFLW team will become a reality after all.

How are you feeling about the news?

Wed, 4:23amWed 3 Dec 2025 at 4:23amEnough YES votes means stadium will happen(Macquarie Point Development Corporation)

That’s it — we’ve reached magical number eight.

Independent MLC Casey Hiscutt says he will vote YES for the stadium.

“I will be supporting this order and the future of our state,” Mr Hiscutt said.

“My decision goes beyond the statements, beyond the reports, beyond the spreadsheets.

“It goes beyond the fear of the unknown and the unease of change.”

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His declaration of support means the order to build the Macquarie Point stadium will pass the upper house.

The result won’t be official until a final vote — likely sometime tomorrow afternoon.

But let the commiserations/celebrations commence.

And people can start preparing for the Tasmania Devils to take the field in the AFL in 2028.

(ABC News)