Today, I have made it clear to AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan Tasmania’s expectations regarding Tasmanian AFL and AFLW teams.
In May, the State of Tasmania put forward a non-binding offer to progress the AFL’s considerations with respect to granting AFL and AFLW licences to Tasmania.
The fixed offer of $10M per year licence fee for 10 years, plus a $50M contribution to club set up costs and high-performance facilities is fair, strong and in line with the business case and Carter Report.
No expansion club has ever come near replicating an offer like this, and while there is value because Tasmania will derive a significant return, the Government will withdraw its offer if the AFL doesn’t respect the magnitude of this offer.
While the AFL business case outlined the need for a stadium to ensure the success of the team in the future, and we are fully committed to a stadium and the substantial social and economic benefits it brings, the Government has made it publicly clear that we will not fully fund a stadium, and in fact we will draw a line under a maximum contribution of up to 50%, delivered on a site and at a cost that is acceptable to Tasmanians.
This is a decision for the State of Tasmania, not the AFL.
It is also a condition precent that the club must be supported by Tasmanians to be successful and to be so it must not just be seen as Tasmania’s team, but to operate as a truly Tasmanian team with the governance reflecting the enormous investment our Government will provide the AFL.
It is also my explicit expectation that the Tasmanian club will be treated equally and fairly by the AFL in funding matters consistent with other similar sized and expansion clubs.
Given the AFL is the beneficiary of all upside in new broadcast and other revenues associated with growth, it is expected that the AFL will fairly and equitably contribute to the start-up costs of the Tasmanian club to ensure its success.
Our offer also remains contingent upon several other assumptions, in addition to the start-up cost expectations and mutually agreeable governance structure, including funding both male and female talent pathways, the establishment of a Tasmanian VFL team, and a guarantee that games will be played in both Hobart and Launceston.
The finalisation of these important details has been ongoing for sometime, however we are very close to a final decision and I have called on the AFL to make good on its commitments and to treat Tasmania with the same equity and respect it has provided other states.
The only way we make history is together and I have every confidence we will get the job done for the survival of the code in Tasmania, the benefits it will deliver Tasmanians and our economy, but also for the success and growth of the game nationally.