What the candidates in Braddon told Our Place about their voting intentions
Over the past two months people from every corner of the state have taken a pledge to exercise their vote to put the health and welfare of all Tasmanians before the arrogant demands of the AFL.
To help you honour that pledge, we asked every candidate one simple question:
If elected, will you vote for the use of public funds (costing $ hundreds of millions) for construction of a new stadium for AFL in Tasmania?
This is how they responded:
| Liz Hamer – Independent | Yes | We need jobs we need future investments into our state and we need to take this federal money and show we can utilise the economics of this project and build infrastructure for this state and encourage overseas artists and sports men and women to use this great opportunity the money was ear marked for this project and we don’t want to lose an opportunity to invest |
| Dale Marshall – Shooters, Fishers & Farmers | No | Support a team and stadium but prefer York Park – more central for all Tasmanians |
| Brenton Jones – Shooters, Fishers & Farmers | No | Tasmania needs infrastructure that aids industry and commerce to generate money to fund education and health services, not low return entertainment facilities. Football should remain a Saturday local sport, not be big business. If clubs and people want a large football ground they should 100% fund it. |
| Susanne Ward – Greens | No | |
| Darren Briggs – Greens | No | The Tasmanian Greens do not support the investment of many hundreds of millions taxpayer dollars in the construction of a new stadium in Tasmania. Tasmania has several stadiums in which AFL, and other sports, are routinely played. While we strongly support an AFL and ALFW team, we believe they should play in the existing stadiums and be based in Launceston. York Park is one of the best playing surfaces in the country and has hosted AFL games for well over a decade. The Greens support the pledged $130 m upgrade to York Park and have formally proposed it be the ‘Home of football’. |
| James Redgrave – Jacqui Lambie Network | Uncommitted | Not until I’m elected will I be able to see what’s really in the cupboard and what is left in the safe. What I’m trying to say is that if I’m lucky enough to be elected in the seat of Braddon by the voters of Braddon my first priority is to Braddon then Tasmanians right across Tasmania. They will come first above all else. I would ensure that consultation is done right and with everyone in Tasmania being placed first. Then if a consensus is formed that works for the majority that’s where I will be on this issue. |
| Miriam Beswick – Jacqui Lambie Network | Uncommitted | I am committed to Tasmania having an AFL team. I am sceptical about the currently proposed plan, and that the advertised cost and business plan are realistic. The decision on how much funding is committed and how/where it is spent should be informed by detailed public consultation across the state. Not behind closed doors, hidden even from the Government’s own cabinet. There are big problems in health, housing and education, which urgently need to be addressed. This investment needs to be considered with a good Return on Investment plan. |
Help by sharing this information on Facebook
Some questions you may be pondering:
What if I vote for the Liberal Party?
In your electorate (and in every electorate around the State), every Liberal Party candidate failed to respond. We know the Liberal Party publicly advocates for a stadium at Macquarie Point. For more information on their position, we looked to the Premier’s Media Conference of 15 February and his undertaking to cap stadium spending at $375M. Click below to refresh your memory on our thoughts about that.
What if I vote for the Labor Party?
Across the entire state, only two ALP candidates took the time to respond. One ticked the NO box and one ticked the UNCOMMITTED box – not a reflection of a tightly held party position. Again, we looked to the stated party position – to renegotiate the deal. On 12th March 2024 the Labor leader announced her party would see how the AFL Team went before committing to a stadium. This leaves the door open for a decision to be made in favour of a stadium in Hobart at any point in time the ALP – if in government – decides is the right time. In light of continuing AFL arrogance and intransigence, we wonder whether a vote for Labor might turn out to be a vote for a stadium?
What if I vote for one of the minor parties?
Minor party candidates were more responsive than either of the majors.
We recommend that, when reading the results for the minor parties, you ensure that the candidate’s comments are consistent with their declared position. And, as with the Labor responses, have an eye to the party’s capacity to hold a consistent line.
Most of the minor parties have websites you can visit that set out policy positions on other issues that are important to you. Beware fake sites – some groups have stooped pretty low in this campaign and created sites in the name of other parties setting out fake policy positions. And while the Our Place campaign is about a stadium, we would not encourage people to vote for NO STADIUM parties that hold other policy positions likely to cause harm to Tasmanian communities or individuals.
What if I vote for an Independent?
It was only amongst the Independents that we found any YES responses.
As with the minor party candidates we recommend that, when reading the results, you ensure that the candidate’s comments are consistent with their declared position (e.g. you decide if a NO sits comfortably with: “I support a more moderate plan for a Hobart stadium, or perhaps the privatised model … ”).
And we recommend that, where you are considering parking your vote with an Independent who will vote NO for a stadium, you take the time to find out more about them. Our campaign is about a stadium but we would not encourage people to vote for NO STADIUM candidates who hold other policy positions likely to cause harm to Tasmanian communities or individuals.