Tasmania’s AFL dream gains support, but critics raise cost and public backing concerns before the 2028 debut.

With a resounding vote, it’s time for the Tasmania Devils to prepare for 2028

Article Text Written By Tim Harcourt

The Tasmanian people have gone to the polls again with a resounding vote for establishment for the Tasmania Devils Football Club and their stadium-precinct in time for the team to enter the Australian Football League (AFL) in season 2028. The election had taken place earlier than scheduled after an unexpected no confidence vote in the Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff by the Labor Opposition Leader Dean Winter with the support of Greens Party and some of the independents.

Under Tasmania’s Hare Clark system the 35-seat parliament looks likely to be largely unchanged with the Liberals likely to have the most seats on 14 (and a possible 15), Labor 9 (and a possible 10), Greens at least 5 and the rest independents and minor parties. Both Liberal and Labor support the team and stadium-precinct, the Greens oppose the stadium-precinct and the independents are a mixture.

The Tasmania Football Club is very encouraged by the vote so far, as of the votes counted thus far, on election night, nearly 70% of the people have voted for pro – stadium parties giving the state the mandate to build the stadium and accompanying precinct at Macquarie Point to enable the Tassie Devils to enter the AFL on schedule in 2028.

The election result buries the myth that the stadium is hugely unpopular, if it were the case the Liberal vote would have tanked (it’s actually up 3%) and the Green vote would have increased substantially (up only 0.3%). The sitting anti-Stadium independents would have held their seats – they have been booted out of parliament.

Significantly, the pro Devils and stadium independent, former Labor leader David O’Byrne actually received a +2.3% swing in his seat of Franklin and may even get more votes in the seat that Opposition leader Dean Winter. If the stadium had been as unpopular as its detractors said O’Byrne would not have been voted back in let alone achieved a swing to him. He may end up being have been the best Labor Premier Tasmania never had.

The Liberals will have an increased vote have a “mandate” to govern from the Tasmanian people, however, in the absence of an absolute majority, they will need to negotiate with an Independent or two to form government. Winter, who’s vote has gone backwards has ruled out governing with the Greens although may talk to independents if the Premier fails to in his endeavours to get cross bench support.

Interestingly, the Premier who survived a personal “no confidence” motion in his leadership has proved to be very popular electorally and achieved a 4% swing to him in his seat of Braddon. Premier Rockliff has run strongly and the economic and social benefits of the Tassie Devils and the stadium-precinct, so his popularity at the ballot box, dispels the notion pushed by Greens Party and others that the Stadium is universally unwanted. Speaking of popularity, the stadium-precinct also has the strong backing of Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, riding high in the current Newspoll, who has pledged $240 million towards the Tasmania Devils infrastructure (stadium-precinct and high-performance centre) on top of the $360 million AFL package to support footy across the state, from Burnie to Bruny Island.

With the electoral test passed, it’s time now for the Tasmania Devils to prepare for season in 2028 and for the Tasmanian community to get behind the team and the opportunities the club will bring for future generations of Tasmanians.

Professor Tim Harcourt is Chief Economist for the Centre for Sport, Business and Society at University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and host of Footynomics: The Business of Sport.