LFC said:

which Gov gave the funding for Tas ?

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Decentric said:

I'm gutted about the AFL stadium being approved.

Actively campaigned against it!

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Decentric said:

All of them!

Have played with and against them, been coached by them, been taught by them, have done coach education with them, and one was my uni lecturer!

One has been into my house visiting.

Small world!

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Frankly Speaking said:

The lecturer would have been Graham. Political Science. Me too. I was very sad to learn belatedly of his passing. Small world indeed.

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Decentric said:

Liberal state.

I've got to go to bed, but I could write a thesis on this. I know some of the political players, or if not, know political advisers. I left a political party over this issue.

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grazorblade said:

Sadly tony pignata campaigned against funding for south hobart fc

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LFC said:

Because your party sided with the Libs to approve eh ?

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HappyGuus said:

All good mate, I trust ya

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HappyGuus said:

Oh damm, I'll humbly apologise if I've missed that article/post. Can you link to it? I've only seen him wishing them well, but that doesn't help them at all haha

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Decentric said:

Sad to hear.

Good bloke too - and funny.

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Decentric said:

True.

Go to the top of the class for comprehension, LFC.

Initially they campaigned against it. I was knocking doors and staffing stalls with the then Leader of the Opposition and a Leg Co, amongst others , taking petitions to voters to sign against it. There were also Labor Party car stickers against the stadium. I had one on my car and got heaps to sign petitions.

Right from the top, with people smiling as they told me, there was ostensibly a plan where the Feds put so many provisions that the state Libs could not meet, the Feds would use the money for community based projects - housing, health and education. They would blame the Rockcliff Lib Tas govt, for being incompetent.

Then the Parl Labor Party flipped. The leader was changed. Out of step with the grassroots members. We also have a few union leaders who've wanted the stadium. One leader wouldn't speak to me for a month after telling said person how pissed off many unionists were with said person!

Then said person stood for govt - and copped it everywhere for said person's views supporting the stadium. Said person also got far less votes than anticipated.

A good mate of mine and I have barely spoken to each other for years, given his strident campaign for it. His FB page has been like a war between pro and anti stadium advocates.

What some MPs have said at rallies is the government should never have let this issue have become so divisive. We had Leg Cos crying as they were speaking in the upper house yesterday, mainly independents, because of how polarised the views are of their constituents - passionate one way or the other. They don't have a party network to alleviate the stress of direct voter contact.

IMO, and a few MPs I know think there is merit to the argument, that the Libs always have a wedge issue to air to galvanise their enemies - and to shore up support from their core base. Anti- protest laws, cable car project on the mountain, salmon industry, native forest logging, amalgamation of councils - whilst they quietly get on with the work of governing the state for vested interests and donors.

The progenitor of the stadium/AFL idea was Peter Gutwein former premier. 4 days before he resigned, he decided he wanted to be a Tas AFL club Pres. He tool the shoddy team/stadium concept to the AFL and they gleefully accepted, as he sold the state out and committed to stadium debt.

Progressive Lord Mayor of Hobart, Anna Reynolds, has just released a public statement talking about how participation in a lot of other sports, including soccer/football, is much higher than AFL, and that all other sports will lose funding to AFL.

I've got Xmas union drinks tonight, with most of the key stakeholders involved attending. It could be a really acrimonious affair, with so many polarising views on the stadium. particularly with a few drinks consumed. People will be jubilant, or really pissed off, or there will be a few neutrals. Sadly, there is usually a great deal of camaraderie at these events.

Whereas Albo usually governs for what is loosely defined as all Aussies, him calling for a vote for the stadium has infuriated many Labor Party voters and stakeholders. He could cough up Fed money and the stadium could be sited somewhere far more suitable than Mac Point.

All for an extra 3 AFL games a year than occur currently at Bellerive Oval. Insane!

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