![AFL boss puts Tasmanian politicians on notice AFL boss puts Tasmanian politicians on notice](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/NX9MbAzZyG5Vh8eWtwPQfX/46eb186b-57be-4a9c-94d0-17c0ae0f0442.jpg/r0_413_4401_2888_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
In a clear statement of what must come next on the stadium deal, the AFL boss says it is now up to Tasmania's politicians to decide.
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AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said AFL presidents were recently briefed and reminded about the conditional Tasmanian AFL licence.
Mr McLachlan said there were two conditions that must be fulfilled, one was the 23,000 seat stadium, and the other was legislative approval in the upper and lower houses of the Tasmanian parliament.
"The specific important piece is the change in the process for the approvals of the stadium that will now need to go through both houses of parliament," Mr McLachlan said.
"That process might take a little bit more time. It is more for the politicians of Tasmania to decide whether they want a licence or not...ultimately it is as simple as that."
The Tasmanian AFL team's licence was officially awarded last month, making it the 19th team in the football league
If all goes to plan, the team will play its first game in 2028 in a $715 million purpose-built stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart.
Mr McLachlan said millions of dollars had already been committed to the project, including Federal funding from the Labor Albanese government.
He said he remained positive about the project and its future.
"All the other streams are on foot and ultimately, the process for the approval of the stadium will be called in and go through parliament and these are decisions for the leadership of that state," he said.
"People are entitled to views, positive and negative, ultimately it is a decision for the Tasmanian parliament whether they want this team or not."
He said many Tasmanians wanted an AFL team, and that a multi-purpose stadium would bring many benefits for the state.
"Big decisions always have different views...these things are hard."
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