Franklin Candidates Survey 2025

Since the announcement of yet another election, people from every corner of the state have taken a pledge to exercise their vote to put health, housing and education for all Tasmanians before the arrogant demands of the AFL for a stadium.

To help you honour that pledge, we asked every candidate one simple question:

If elected, will you oppose construction of an AFL stadium at Macquarie Point?

This is how they responded, with results displayed in alphabetical order and exactly as they were written:

Carly Allen - Greens

Rayne Allinson - Independent

Kirsten Bacon - Independent

Brian Chapman - Greens

Louise Cherrie - Independent

Gideon Cordover - Greens

Mark Donnellon - Greens

Owen Fitzgerald - Greens

Peter George - Independent

Sarah Gibbens - Independent

Andrew Jenner - Independent

Chrissie Materia - Independent

Adi Munshi - Greens

Hans Willink - Independent

Rosalie Woodruff - Greens

Yes

The stadium is going to cost over a billion dollars. It’s had three budget blowouts, and it has massive problems, so the cost will keep going up. Tasmania deserves an AFL team, but we shouldn’t be forced to build a stadium. With the budget in disrepair, and so many problems that need fixing, we can’t afford it. Liberal and Labor politicians have broken promises, attacked independent experts, and tried to change the law to fast-track the stadium. We’ve always been the strongest voice against the stadium. That’s why voting Green is the best way to say no to the stadium.

I love footy, and Tassie deserves it's own team in the AFL. But we simply cannot afford to build a brand new $1.86 billion stadium right now, with the state budget spiraling out of control. We need to prioritise education, health, housing, and other essential services. Macquarie Point is also the wrong place for a stadium, as it would impact the cenotaph (the oldest in Australia), drown out our world-class Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and cause major congestion in a sensitive historic area. If elected, I would push for a renegotiation of the AFL deal.

As an independent candidate for Franklin, I strongly oppose the Macquarie Point stadium, which I believe does not serve Tasmania’s best interests. I will not provide confidence and supply to any party that supports it. The stadium’s escalating costs divert vital funds from healthcare, education, and housing—services Tasmanians urgently need. Both major parties support it despite public opposition and concerns over viability. I stand with Tasmanians who prioritise essential services over costly infrastructure that fails to reflect real community needs.

The stadium is going to cost over a billion dollars. It’s had three budget blowouts, and it has massive problems, so the cost will keep going up. Tasmania deserves an AFL team, but we shouldn’t be forced to build a stadium. With the budget in disrepair, and so many problems that need fixing, we can’t afford it. Liberal and Labor politicians have broken promises, attacked independent experts, and tried to change the law to fast-track the stadium. We’ve always been the strongest voice against the stadium. That’s why voting Green is the best way to say no to the stadium.

I am a founding member of The Devils. We deserve a team. I will work constructively with any member of parliament elected by the Tasmanian public. However, I will not support a new stadium at Macquarie Point that will bankrupt us, signed up to in a deal done behind closed doors that we have not seen. We can find a smarter path! Go the Devils!

The stadium is going to cost over a billion dollars. It’s had three budget blowouts, and it has massive problems, so the cost will keep going up. Tasmania deserves an AFL team, but we shouldn’t be forced to build a stadium. With the budget in disrepair, and so many problems that need fixing, we can’t afford it. Liberal and Labor politicians have broken promises, attacked independent experts, and tried to change the law to fast-track the stadium. We’ve always been the strongest voice against the stadium. That’s why voting Green is the best way to say no to the stadium.

My consistent position has been “Yes” of course we should have a team, have earned the right to have a team. The AFL will simply have to renegotiate the terms of the contract and to suggest that’s not possible is a nonsense. Of course the two old parties and the AFL will try to scare and bully us into accepting the grossly expensive and unnecessary stadium when we have perfectly adequate infrastucture and are struggling to cope with a $13,000,000,000 debt that’s growing fast with annual interest payments likely to top $700,000,000. Yes Team. No Stadium. Full stop.

I think the Stadium at Macquarie Point would be wrong. Hobart is a beautiful and historic town and, whilst I think that Sport is important to many Tasmanians, I feel that, perhaps an upgrade to the current two might be better and perhaps greater funding put into streamling an acadamy programme for Tasmania's youth- something to help Tasmania shine still through Sport but to allow Hobart to stay the beautiful town it has always been. Traffic is also a complex issue and the Stadium would create more congestion.

At this time when the state debt is likely to be at $13,000 million and an annual interest rate of $700,000,000 a year. No new stadium. The location of Macquarie Point' is the wrong place. Reclaimed land effectively means we are building the stadium in the Derwent River. An economic disaster waiting to happen.

The stadium is going to cost over a billion dollars. It’s had three budget blowouts, and it has massive problems, so the cost will keep going up. Tasmania deserves an AFL team, but we shouldn’t be forced to build a stadium. With the budget in disrepair, and so many problems that need fixing, we can’t afford it. Liberal and Labor politicians have broken promises, attacked independent experts, and tried to change the law to fast-track the stadium. We’ve always been the strongest voice against the stadium. That’s why voting Green is the best way to say no to the stadium.

I oppose Stadium 1.0, but reserve judgment on Stadium 2.0, which the State Government summarily dismissed after surrendering to AFL bullying to adhere to unrealistic timelines. We should call the AFL's bluff and reject moves to fast-track Stadium 1.0 until both the planning commission has completed its analysis and then compare it to the Stadium 2 proposal, which should also undergo the same analysis. The Tasmanian Devils should be allowed to play at Bellerive and York Park until a considered comparison is undertaken, and a new stadium is built, if it is affordable and if it has a business case that stacks up.

The stadium is going to cost over a billion dollars. It’s had three budget blowouts, and it has massive problems, so the cost will keep going up. Tasmania deserves an AFL team, but we shouldn’t be forced to build a stadium. With the budget in disrepair, and so many problems that need fixing, we can’t afford it. Liberal and Labor politicians have broken promises, attacked independent experts, and tried to change the law to fast-track the stadium. We’ve always been the strongest voice against the stadium. That’s why voting Green is the best way to say no to the stadium.

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Some questions you may be pondering:

What’s the most effective way to use my vote?

It can be hard to number a box for a prominent member of the stadium cult. But we acknowledge the expertise of Kevin Bonham and recommend you number every box to fully exhaust your vote. Dr Bonham explains:

Before this campaign is over, there will be many more parliamentary votes taken on a variety of questions determining the future of the Mac Point precinct and how much Tasmanians are prepared to forego to secure State AFL/W teams. This includes a new state budget.

We encourage votes for candidates who want to deliver a Mac Point site with amenities for all Tasmanians, while AFL is played at existing grounds. We encourage votes for candidates who believe in a sustainable budget, integrity in government and proper planning processes. Electing members who have pledged to stand with us will make all the difference when crucial votes are taken in the future.

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 will do everything it can to secure a stadium at Macquarie Point.

What if I vote for the Labor Party?

In your electorate (and in every electorate around the State), every Labor Party candidate failed to respond. We know the Labor Party has failed as an Opposition on this – and many other – issues. While it is known for its spectacular backflips, we think it is a safe bet that Labor will do everything it can to secure a stadium at Macquarie Point.

What if I vote for one of the other parties?

The other parties’ candidates were more responsive than Liberal or Labor.

We recommend that, when reading the results for these, you ensure that the candidate’s comments are consistent with their declared position. And have an eye to the party’s capacity to hold a consistent line.

What if I vote for an Independent?

It was only amongst the Independents that we found any responses fully supportive of a stadium.

We recommend that, when reading the results, you ensure that the candidate’s comments are consistent with their declared position. And remember that they are not in any sense “bound” as party members are – this makes it even more important that you learn as much about them as you can.

Where can I learn more about the candidates?

Where candidates have failed to respond, we are legally unable to report their position but we have serious doubts about their level of commitment to democratic process. For all candidates, where available, we have included links to sites that will give you more information about them.

We encourage you to do your own homework. And we recommend that, where you are considering parking your vote with a candidate who will vote to oppose a stadium, you take the time to find out more about their other views. 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.

Vote to spend our money on health, housing and education, not a stadium.

Vote to ensure fair and democratic decisions about critical planning matters.

Get to know who is standing in Franklin for the 19 July 2025 State election

Learn more about the candidates using these links: