Legislative Council, Thursday 29 June 2023

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

My question is a follow-up question relating to the contract signed by the Premier and the AFL.

(1) Noting the contract specifies a fixed translucent roof:

(a) During the design phase of the stadium, could the fixed translucent roof be renegotiated to a retractable roof and still meet the requirements of the contract?

(b) During the design phase of the stadium, could an open the stadium without a roof be negotiated and still meet the requirements of the contract?

A simple yes or no will do.

ANSWER

Mr President, I thank the member for the question, and I do understand a simple yes or no answer would be what you are looking for; but these are the responses:

(1) (a) When the stadium project enters the official design phase considerable further work will be undertaken on the specific design of the stadium, including the roof structure and stadium functionality for various events. The design phase will also include detailed consultation on stadium functionality and event scheduling with key sporting, arts, entertainment and business event stakeholders.

(b) The Club Funding and Development Agreement between the Crown and the AFL, signed on 3 May 2023, detailed the minimum specifications - including a fixed translucent roof. This is integral to the development of a successful multipurpose stadium at Macquarie Point.

Ms FORREST - Mr President, I cannot see how I can be any clearer on this. It is not the Leader's fault. She reads what she is given; but I do not know how clear I can make it. Is that negotiable? Is the roof structure negotiable, including the design phase? I appreciate that is where the work will be done. Mr Dillon was clear in his evidence - and he probably said it 25 times - that it would be a 23 000-seat, fixed roof stadium at Macquarie Point. The question was, still is and always will be: is that part of the contract? If we do not put a fixed, translucent roof on that stadium, does that void the contract?