Now that the major parties are on a unity ticket for the development of the Mac Point stadium there’s no incentive for them to raise peripheral issues, and anyone outside the tent who does so is jumped on by the majors as negative and misguided in what’s best for Tasmania.

It is now recognised that the Federal grant of $240 million is for the Mac Point precinct, not specifically for the stadium itself.

Nevertheless, when the cost of the stadium is bandied about, specifically how much we will have to borrow, the grant is always deducted in full from the stadium cost to derive a figure for net borrowings required, (which some then convert to a multiple of the number of weeks of health spending this equates to, in order to trivialise the sum involved).

Federal grants are sometimes quarantined from GST calculations meaning future GST distributions won’t be affected.

Both major Federal parties have indicated they support the Mac Point Federal grant being quarantined, after initial doubts.

Notwithstanding whether a grant is quarantined they usually come with accompanying conditions. That the grant be spent is a certain way is always a condition, but often there’s a requirement the State must chip in as well.

Sometimes we must make a matching grant for instance.

The grant of $240 million for the Mac Point precinct requires wharf upgrades and housing to be set aside as affordable, essential worker or social housing. Upgrades to Macquarie wharf will be needed. Wharf 6 must provide the Nuyina with facilities acceptable to the Australian Government. The Tasmanian Government will also need to upgrade Wharves 4 and 5 to support polar, research programs, defence support and additional commercial opportunities.

It is likely decision to quarantine the grant was made easier because of the nation-wide benefits flowing from these specialist facilities as distinct from another entertainment/sporting precinct.

The early election once again prevented the annual examination of the government at Estimates hearings which may have shed light on some of these matters.

Much of the port spending will likely occur in the government owned business, Tas Ports, which is also currently grappling with Berth 3 problems at Devonport for the Spirit ferries, although TasPorts’ required wharf facility has been constructed for some time now.

The issues that need more attention are these:

1. Will the Commonwealth provide the $240 million funding if there isn’t evidence of the grant conditions being met; and

2. If the conditions are to be met, where is the funding for them in the just released 25/26 Budget; and

3. How much will it cost for all the peripheral spending needed to satisfy the accompanying conditions?

These are questions not just for the government but also for the opposition. With the Labor Party beavering away on its fiscal strategy and targets due out this week, we hopefully shouldn’t have long to wait for an answer.