RSL Australia Disappointed at PM’s Stadium Call

MEDIA RELEASE

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) says it is disappointed at comments from the Prime Minister, pressuring Tasmania’s Legislative Council to pass legislation facilitating the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium.

Australia’s largest veteran organisation says the current proposed design for a roofed stadium would adversely impact on the sanctity and heritage of the Hobart Cenotaph.

RSL Australia strongly supports the stand of its State Branch on Hobart’s proposed Macquarie Point Stadium and says the project must respect the sacrifice of Tasmania’s veterans and war dead.

RSL Tasmania has proposed a compromise saying it would support a stadium provided the development does not interrupt the sight lines from the base of the Cenotaph to St George’s Anglican Church, Battery Point and the mouth of the River Derwent. This would likely require the stadium to be built without a roof.

RSL National President Peter Tinley said the Hobart Cenotaph was a sacred site for Defence veterans, their families and for all Tasmanians, and its heritage values, cultural and spiritual significance must be respected and protected for all time.

“The RSL is pro-stadium provided it does not impact on the historic sightlines from the Cenotaph, so we urge acceptance of the RSL Tasmania compromise.

“The Hobart Cenotaph is the nation’s oldest State capital city war memorial, celebrating its centenary this year, and the current stadium design will forever change its sacred values,” Mr Tinley said.

“It was purposely sited to command key sightlines across the city and down the Derwent River where the troops departed for Gallipoli, and many of these would be destroyed and the Cenotaph dwarfed by the roofed stadium design.”

“We encourage the Tasmanian Parliament and the AFL to adopt a sensible compromise and develop a lower height stadium that still provides for Tasmania’s AFL entry but protects the values of the State’s sacred monument to our war veterans and service personnel

“Prime Minister Albanese should also consider these values in his comments,” he said.

ENDS

National Media contact: Tony Harrison media@rsl.org.au