Question - AFL High-Performance Centre contract

Wednesday 2 September 2026

Ms ARMITAGE question to MINISTER for SPORT, Mr DUIGAN

[2.51 p.m.]

Minister, while it is noted that Fairbrother has been awarded the contract to build the high-performance centre at Kingston for $105 million. Is this a fixed-price contract or is it cost‑plus given the rapidly escalating building costs?

ANSWER

Thank you, Mr President, and thank the member for Launceston for the question. It was great to be at Kingston on Monday. There were a cast of thousands there and it is really exciting to see the Devils coming to life, to fruition, to reality and the high-performance centre of course will be a very central piece of infrastructure in that build to give you some flavour. It's actually $115 million build funded by the state with $105 million and the AFL with $10 million. The AFL high-performance centre is being delivered by the club. It is a contract between the club and Fairbrother. Again, it is great to see Fairbrother, a Tasmanian company delivering that piece of infrastructure. I would also acknowledge the fact that they delivered the Jack Jumpers high-performance centre up the hill, in the last few weeks. Again that one was ahead of schedule and indeed under budget. That gives us a great deal of confidence.

Ms Armitage - Could you answer my question?

Mr DUIGAN - I will get to that. I think it is something we should all be so proud of that the Jack Jumpers high-performance Centre and indeed the AFL high-performance centre will both be split 50/50 along gender lines. They are the first as I'm informed of their kind to be absolutely shared and equitable facilities. Our opportunity in AFL for our club to come out of the ground with a men's and women's team, not one predating the other, not one more senior or subservient to the other. I think is such a great opportunity for us and as we go forward for that to be built together as one. It's exciting. Of course, everybody should be at North Hobart Oval this Saturday at 11.05 a.m. to see the Tasmania Football Club represent our state in the VFL finals against Essendon.

Ms Armitage - Through you Mr President. If the minister could answer the question, which was it a fixed contract or a cost plus?

Mr DUIGAN - Yes, the minister's getting to it. It is such an important thing that we are building here. We have provided $105 million.

Ms Armitage - Is that fixed?

Mr DUIGAN - We have provided $105 million.

Ms O'Connor - There's your answer.

Member - Let him speak.

Ms Webb - He's filibustered quite a lot, so you could get to the answer.

Mr PRESIDENT - Order.

Mr DUIGAN - We have provided $105 million. Fairbrother, who I say have built the high-performance centre up the hill, are confident that the project will be delivered within the budget envelope and it is my expectation that the parties work together to manage the project within the funding commitments. I think it's important to recognise that this is a contract that the club is managing and any value management is within the realm of the club to manage, so government maintains an oversight position on the steering committee, but we have all passed up $105 million -

Ms O'Connor - You have to fund it if it blows out. You should be straight up.

Supplementary Question

[2.55 p.m.]

While I appreciate the preamble, the question I have, and I do understand that the $105 million is being managed by the club, but the question I want answered is: is it a fixed contract because regardless of who's managing it, it is public money. I would like it if the minister could say, and I accept that we'd like it to come in on budget, but is it a fixed contract or is it expenses plus? Can it run over? It is a simple question.

Mr DUIGAN - That is a question you probably need to put to the club, given it is a contract between the club and Fairbrother.

Ms Armitage - But it's government money.