Overview

• Tasmania released its formal reply to the Tasmanian Planning Commission, rejecting a recommendation to scrap the roofed Macquarie Point venue.
• The government argues many benefits are not easily quantified, pointing to jobs, tourism and civic pride despite a cost–benefit ratio below 0.5 in the TPC report.
• Permit conditions flagged by the government include an independent expert design panel, relocation and integration of the Goods Shed, and plans to manage traffic, parking, noise and crowds.
• The project faces a November parliamentary vote, with Labor backing ensuring lower-house passage but three of eight independents still needed in the upper house.
• Independent MLC Mike Gaffney says he will vote no on affordability grounds, while the AFL maintains the stadium is required for Tasmania’s AFL and AFLW teams targeted for 2028.