Tasmanian government to ditch current planning process for AFL stadium

The Tasmanian Government has confirmed it will introduce legislation to push the Macquarie Point AFL stadium forwards, bypassing the planning process already underway. The roofed stadium is a requirement for Tasmania to be granted its own AFL team but the project has faced considerable backlash, describing it as "overbearing" and arguing it risks Tasmania's credit rating. A render of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium in Hobart released by the Macquarie Point Development Corporation to the Tasmanian Planning Commission, which was published by the TPC in February 2025.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff this week indicated the government had concerns with the current planning process, and was canvassing other options for its assessment. Today, he confirmed the government would be introducing "enabling legislation" to progress the stadium, rather than continuing with the Project of State Significance (POSS) process. He said in the last week it had "become clear" that the current process "is undermining certainty and confidence in the future of the precinct and the Tasmania Devils AFL club, impacting construction, recruitment and economic prospects".



Business minister Eric Abetz said the government held concerns about the Tasmanian Planning Commission's draft Integrated Assessment Report's scope, and . "It is the government's view that Dr Gruen's report has been tainted by an apprehension of bias, undermining the government's confidence in the Integrated Assessment Report," Mr Abetz said. Mr Rockliff said public representations on the draft report would "continue as planned" until May 8.

He said the new legislation would be released for public consultation in May, and that parliament would still have its say on the stadium. The Tasmanian Planning Commission was due to hand down its final report in September..