Lucy Macdonald

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Lucy Macdonald

The first time the Premier spoke about the Tasmanian Planning Commission's scathing stadium report he described it as "perplexing", the following day it was "deeply concerning", a week later it was "tainted". These may seem like throwaway descriptions, but the careful shifts in language should ring alarm bells for some, each one signifying a greater disregard for a report that raises a lot of red flags about a very expensive project the government has staked its reputation on.

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Lucy Macdonald

An independent motion urging the Tasmanian government to renegotiate its deal with the AFL could give the best indication yet of how the Hobart stadium project may fare when it appears before the upper house, which is key to its future. The Macquarie Point stadium, which has divided Tasmanians across the state, is currently being assessed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission. Last week, the commission released a scathing draft report, claiming the costs of the project far outweighed the benefits.

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Lucy Macdonald

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has confirmed he has sought advice on alternative ways to progress the controversial Macquarie Point stadium, leaving the door open to walk away from the Project of State Significance (POSS) process. The Tasmanian Planning Commission is currently assessing the proposed stadium and released a draft report on Monday which was scathing of the government's claims about the project.

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Lucy Macdonald

It's not the mid-term report any parent (or proponent) would've wanted. The Tasmanian Planning Commission's fierce and frank draft report on the proposed Macquarie Point stadium may make no final judgements, but it also doesn't hold back. Finding issues with everything from the cost-benefit analysis — it says for every dollar Tasmania spends it'll only get 53 cents back, that's less than the 69 cents the proponents predicted — to the "overbearing" scale of the stadium.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Lucy Macdonald

Six thousand, one hundred and fifty seven. That's how many lockdowns there were in Tasmania's prison system last year. For many, that number will be almost incomprehensible and therefore easy to ignore. But for Jamie* it is personal. He spent 20 months locked in Risdon Prison. Five months of that time was in the Southern Remand Centre (SRC) where he estimates he spent about half the time locked down.