Source : ABC NEWS
Former federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer says her support for a Hobart AFL stadium is “100 per cent locked in”, after previously arguing the state should be investing in health over “AFL teams in Hobart”.
The renegade Liberal, who lost her seat at last month’s federal election, has announced she will seek party preselection for the state seat of Bass, if an early Tasmanian election is called.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff will ask Governor Barbara Baker on Tuesday to consider an early election after emergency budget bills are passed, in the wake of a successful vote of no confidence in him last week.
Bridget Archer has sought preselection from the state Liberal party, still headed by Jeremy Rockliff (right). (ABC News: Bec Pridham)
Archer initially critical of stadium
Ms Archer, a moderate Liberal who crossed the floor multiple times during her stint in federal parliament, submitted a speech to an anti-stadium rally in 2023.
Read out by actor Essie Davis, the speech said Ms Archer supported Tasmania having an AFL team, “but it should never ever have been on the condition that close to $1 billion was spent on an unnecessary third stadium”.
Ms Archer has confirmed she submitted the speech to the rally.
Ms Archer also argued in 2022 that Tasmania should be investing in health over “AFL teams in Hobart”.
At that time, the federal Liberals were critical of the federal government’s $240 million commitment to allow the stadium to be built.
Following her election defeat, Ms Archer told ABC radio last month the stadium had come up as an issue during the federal campaign.
Lynne Ferencz travelled from Burnie for the Stop the Stadium rally in 2023. (ABC News: Loretta Lohberger)
She said it was on the state government to make the case it could both deliver the essential services Tasmanians rely on and build a stadium, an argument she said was “failing to cut through”.
“Certainly, there was a lot of commentary on the doors, on the streets from constituents about their frustration about moving forward with the stadium,” she said last month.
“That is ultimately going to be a matter for the state government, but there is no doubt it is still a barnacle for a lot of people in terms of whether they think it’s the right approach.“
But Ms Archer has now told Tasmanians she’s pro-stadium.
Bridget Archer’s account says she supports the Macquarie Point stadium.
Archer backflips on stadium stance
In a post on the YES AFL TEAM — YES STADIUM Facebook page, Ms Archer assured a pro-stadium supporter that she was now supportive of the controversial proposal.
“I’m 100 per cent locked in,” she said in the post.
And speaking to reporters on Sunday, she said the Liberal team was united in its support for the stadium.
“I’m a foundation member of the Devils, like many other Tasmanians, and we know if we don’t have a stadium we don’t have a team,” she said.
“I want to see a team, I want to see our young people getting up and running around and playing in that Tasmanian guernsey.”
Both Tasmania’s Liberal and Labor leaders have doubled down on their support for the proposed Macquarie Point stadium. (Tasmanian government)
Government Minister Felix Ellis said he expected strong support for the stadium from Ms Archer and the wider team as the Liberal Party prepare to head to an election.
“We have an incredible group of people who work as a united team and who want to build a better Tasmania,” he said.
“We have strong support for those positions and delivering the intergenerational infrastructure that Tasmanians deserve.
“We’re going to back in our leader and our team. We have a strong plan to build an even better Tasmania and that’s clearly our focus.”
