Federal Sports Minister Anika Wells says a Tasmanian AFL license shouldn’t be contingent on a stadium, an opposing view to those inside AFL House.
Speaking to SEN Test Cricket on Saturday afternoon, Ms Wells stated that “$375 million for a stadium is a lot to ask”.
The proposed Tasmania stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart will cost $750 million to build. The state government has pledged half, with the remaining $375 million to come from a combination of private investors, the federal government and other bodies. The AFL has committed to investing $15 million in the stadium.
The AFL recently reached an in-principle agreement with Tasmania for a team, although that deal remains contingent on a new stadium being built.
“We want one, we want one, and Tassie wants one. They deserve one, we just don’t think it needs to be conditional on a stadium to get there, no one else had to do that,” Ms Wells said on the Federal Government's view of Tasmania's push for an AFL side.
“375 million bucks for a stadium is a lot to ask for.”
In October, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the door was open for Federal Government investment in the stadium.
“No doubt there'll be approaches of some kind and we'll judge them on their merits,” Mr Chalmers said at the time to News Corp.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has previously stated resolving the issue of the stadium is the “final piece” to Tasmania's bid.