The number of the Premier’s Liberal colleagues who have now publicly opposed his $750 million stadium could nearly fill a footy team.
Senator Claire Chandler is the latest to split with the Premier in a letter to the editor today in The Advocate saying she could not, “in good conscience put a stadium anywhere near the top of the list of priorities.”
She has also claimed the AFL has been briefing mainland journalists about taking the Premier, and therefore the Tasmanian taxpayer, for an absolute ride.
She’s hit out at their bullying tactics, and called them “outrageous and disrespectful”.
In addition to Senator Chandler who’d get a guernsey on the right wing, we have Bass MP Bridget Archer as a goal sneak in the forward pocket, saying “health not AFL” over and over again.
There’s the dour defender Braddon MP Gavin Pearce, who says he’s can’t see how spending taxpayer money on a stadium in Hobart will help the people of Braddon.
Senator Wendy Askew-probably interchange at best-has opposed the Premier’s plan, and the rugged ruck rover Brad Stansfield has called it “madness”.
Dragged out of retirement is Hall of Famer and former Liberal Premier Robin Gray, who has said the Premier’s stadium is a dud deal for Tasmania and even worse for the north.
There’s captain, coach and pin-up midfielder Senator Jono Duniam, who says:
“That money being asked of Canberra, and indeed of the state government, could go a long way to resolving Tasmania’s elective surgery wait-list issues… Perhaps the money could go to assisting Tasmanians with some of their cost of living pressures… [or] maybe a rebate could be put in place to cover the increase in power prices?”
There is clearly a concerted campaign from the Premier’s Federal colleagues against his $750 million stadium.
This powerful side is clearly recruiting. It would seem just a matter of time before members of the Premier’s squad join them in the off-season.
Rebecca White MP
Labor Leader
