With Tasmania's recently-formed AFL project team meeting today for the first time, Premier Will Hodgman, opposition leader Rebecca White and Greens leader Cassy O'Connor stood together and united on the AFL issue.
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Led by founding Virgin Australia chief executive, Brett Godfrey, the board features former Woolworths chief executive Grant O'Brien, prominent Launceston businessman Errol Stewart, Lauderdale Football Club president Julie Kay, former GWS Giants chief financial officer Paul Eriksson, and executive chairman of Dynamic Sports and Entertainment group, James Henderson.
Premier Hodgman said the formation of this group full of business and football knowledge ticks off the AFL's boxes and sets the competition one step closer to being statewide.
"We are demonstrating today that we are very much unified on the political front," Hodgman said.
"There is some things that will divide us, but one thing that brings us together is a team of our own.
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"While there will always be matters in which we disagree, there will be some detail we aren't in agreement on, when it comes to mapping out the pathway for a team of our own we are entirely unified and that sends a very strong message to the AFL and the football community that we are joining together as a Tassie team, putting aside our political difference to give this extraordinary opportunity our best shot."
Bringing together everyone in the Tasmanian football community, ranging from supporters to players, opposition leader Rebecca White said the meeting today was an opportunity to work together on an important issue.
"Tasmania has a very strong sporting culture and our love of footy is well known and it is terrific to be able to join today with the premier, the task-force and the leader of the Greens to show our united position when it comes to securing a footy team for Tasmania," White said.
The task-force has been funded by $150,000 set aside in the state budget and consult with the AFL, the Football Tasmania board, the government and the local football community in order to develop a strong business plan.