The federal government is expected to confirm the needed funding that will see Tasmania approved as the home of the AFL's newest club.
A $240 million shortfall to support the build of a new stadium on the Apple Isle looms as the last piece in a long journey for Tasmania to secure the 19th AFL license, with an answer to be known in the coming weeks with the May 9 federal budget just around the corner.
The AFL pledged $360 million in funding to support Tasmania's push for an AFL side, with the league's investment contingent on further funding from the federal government to help finance a new stadium at Macquarie Point.
While the league will heavily back game development, talent pathways and a new club's training and administration facility, among other plans, expansion has hinged on the support from Parliament House.
According toย Win News Tasmaniaย reporter Brent Costelloe, that support is all but confirmed, with a "pre-budget announcement" tipped to be made in the next week, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Tasmania Premier Jeremy Rockliff set to 'unlock' a breakthrough deal.ย
"All going well, it's my understanding that the $240 million shortfall required by Jeremy Rockliff to build a stadium here at Macquarie Point will finally be unlocked by Anthony Albanese in a pre-budget announcement later this week or very early next week," Costelloe reported on Monday.
"Sources tellย Win News despite (Albanese's) Tasmanian Labor colleagues being opposed to a stadium, he can't be convinced it's a bad idea."
๐๏ธIโm told the Federal Government WILL fund the $240m shortfall required for a new stadium at Macquarie Point, with a pre-budget announcement likely to happen sometime within the next week.
Gil McLachlan wonโt be too far behind to rubber stamp Tassieโs @AFL team.
Details here๐ pic.twitter.com/JHrWivHC03
— Brent Costelloe (@brentcostelloe) April 24, 2023
The total cost for the stadium build is estimated to be $715 million, more than half of which will be backed by the Tasmanian government. The additional $240 million from the federal government will add to the $15 million from the AFL and a further $85 million from land sale and commercial use.
The AFL will also invest an estimated $209 million across the first 10 years to cover base funding, variable funding,ย AFLWย funding and special list establishment funding to ensure a strong team from the start.
The exact season for the 19th side's induction into the AFL is yet to be made clear.
