Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Lambie for the MPI today because it gives us a chance to highlight those challenges that Tasmanians are facing around health, housing and education. And also in the public sector, where the workers are so overworked that they're having to go on strike because there aren't enough of them and they're not paid enough—they haven't had a wage increase in years. We have a state Liberal government that is just walking all over people, saying they want to build this amazing stadium.

I'm often one of the first to complain when Tasmania gets left off the map. We know that happens a lot. Tasmania is an AFL state and always has been. We do deserve our own AFL and AFLW teams, not just as a matter of state pride but also for the economic benefits they deliver. As Senator Duniam said, our state has produced a great slew of AFL players—names that people in here would know, not just those from Tasmania: Daryl Baldock, Peter Hudson and Ian Stewart. And if I want to mention a few other people, my husband, being a Richmond fan, would probably like me to add Matthew Richardson and Jack Riewoldt. All in all, Tasmania has actually supplied over 300 players at the top level—300. Eight games a year are already played on the AFL fixture in Tasmania, with a capacity for more people and a capacity for more games.

So, a Tasmanian team is really a no-brainer. Obviously we have to have a Tasmanian team. But we should be able to do it on a level playing field with other states, not have a gun held to our heads by the AFL. Unfortunately it wasn't initially the AFL that brought this issue up; it was the former premier who added this into the debate. Why he ever did that I don't know, but it was not part of what the AFL put to people. But we shouldn't have to jump through extra hoops. It's not right. I come in here and I argue for territory rights, because I think they should have the same rights as states. And it's the same when it comes to Tassie and footy. Why is Tassie treated like the Cinderella of the football world? I don't understand why.

We've proven that we can get people to football games. We play games already at the stadiums that already exist. There are two stadiums that exist. It's not as though we don't have a stadium. There are already two stadiums that exist. So, why does the Premier of Tasmania want to have another stadium built, at an enormous cost, as Senator Lambie and Senator Brown have said, while people are waiting to get on the housing list? We've got more people than ever on the housing list. We've had the state government say they're going to build 10,000 houses. (Time expired)