A 19th AFL licence for Tasmania isn’t appearing as much of a given as it did just last month.
While the AFL has confirmed the state will receive a team if the proposed stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart is built, funding is proving hard to come by.
At a cost of $750 million, the state government has pledged half of that but with the Federal Government likely needing to chip in the other $375 million, a decision is yet to be made.
Following Federal Sports Minister Annika Wells stating that the cost “is a lot to ask”, WIN News Tasmania’s Brent Costelloe says Jeremy Rockliff will meet with Prime Minster Anthony Albanese later this week to push Tasmania’s case.
“We obviously got some good news and a little step forward when Gil (McLachlan) came down in November and said in principle that an agreement on commercial terms was in place,” Costello told SEN Breakfast.
“But, obviously the issue is funding for the stadium.
“We know the license is contingent on a new stadium being built and for listeners that don’t know, the state government have contributed $375 million towards that which means there’s $375 million that has to come from somewhere else.
“A lot of that funding you’d think would have to come from the Federal Government, the AFL has chipped in $15 million of its own but the rest probably needs to come from the Feds.
“We haven’t heard too much about private backers at this point so as it stands, the business case is being delivered to the Prime Minister.
“As far as we know, Jeremy Rockliff will catch up with him later this week to discuss in further detail.”
While the state’s push for a 19th license is backed by many, Costelloe says the Tasmanian opposition's stance against the stadium could make things “interesting” given the Federal Government will need to disagree with their state counterparts to green-light funding.
“A lot of people I talk to are fully supportive of it, but it seems there’s no in-between,” Costelloe said.
“You’re either for it or you’re against it and there seems to be no middle ground.
“The pitch the Government is trying to say is that it’s more than just footy, it’s arts, it’s entertainment, it’s for a host of different things – that’s the line coming from Jeremy Rockliff and his team at the moment.
“Yes, it’s going to be crucial in getting an AFL team, but it’s going to be way more than that.
“But certainly, there’s some opposition to it down here led by the state opposition.
“The other subplot to this story is that if the Federal Government do decide to fund this, it goes against the opinion of the state counterparts in Tasmania.
“So how that’s going to work will be fascinating as well if the Feds do decide to fund it.
“No doubt there’s a lot more to play out, it’s going to be interesting to see what direction it takes.”
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has previously stated resolving the issue of the stadium is the “final piece” to Tasmania's bid.