Eric Abetz, Minister for Business, Industry and Resources:
The Tasmanian Government has released the independent assessor’s report into the Macquarie Point Stadium.
The Report was undertaken by Dr Nicholas Gruen and in line with the agreement with the Jacquie Lambie Network.
Dr Gruen’s report provides his assessment of the Project.
We thank Dr Gruen for his work, and in preparing the report.
The Tasmanian Government is moving ahead delivering the Precinct, with a Market Sounding process now underway.
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Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland:
Northern independents Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland have welcomed the report into the viability of a new Hobart stadium by Dr Nicholas Gruen.
“We’re very proud to have made the production this report part of our agreement with the Premier,” Mrs Pentland said.
“An independent assessment of the project was critical, and we thank Dr Gruen for his extensive work. He’s engaged with a broad range of stakeholders and delivered a crucial piece of work.
“Dr Gruen confirms the return on investment for Tasmanians simply doesn’t stack up.
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Vica Bayley MP, Greens Treasury spokesperson:
The report into the Rockliff Government’s Mac Point stadium by independent economist Nicholas Gruen finds a litany of major issues with the Macquarie Point stadium.
With our state in the midst of a housing crisis and so many critical problems in the health system, it’s always been clear to us that the stadium is absolutely the wrong priority. Now an expert report commissioned by the Rockliff government itself is ringing the alarm bells about how misguided this project is.
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Luke Edmunds MLC, Shadow Minister for Sport:
Today’s release of the Gruen report has raised serious questions about Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s ability to deliver the stadium he promised Tasmanians would be on time and on budget.
Labor wants to see a stadium built in Hobart because it will create jobs and opportunities for Tasmanians and deliver the AFL and AFLW sides the state deserves. We want to see it delivered on time and on budget, but for that to happen the project needs to be managed properly.
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Our Place – Hobart:
Our Place – Hobart has responded to the release of economist Nicholas Gruen’s report on the cost of the proposed stadium with a mixture of surprise and unsurprise.
Spokesperson Roland Browne said “We’ve been predicting the cost was well above $1billion for the last year. The surprise here is that the cost will be well above that figure.
This is a report commissioned by the Tasmanian government from one of Australia’s leading independent economists. We welcome his assessment that the project has understated costs, overstated benefits, and is in the wrong location. It vindicates community opposition to the ludicrous proposal.
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