Berejiklian's decision to rebuild Sydney stadiums for $2 billion 'political poison', MPs warn
By
Brigid Glanville
Updated about an hour ago Mon 4 Dec 2017, 12:50pm
There is growing opposition to the State Government's decision
to spend $2 billion knocking down and rebuilding both Sydney Olympic and Sydney Football stadiums, with NSW Liberal and Nationals MPs privately expressing anger and concern over the plan.
A petition on Change.org calling on Premier Gladys Berejiklian to "stop wasting money", started by sports commentator and former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons, has gathered more than 62,000 signatures in less than 48 hours.
"We are tired of taxpayer dollars being lavished on building facilities for sports big business, while community sport withers on the vine for lack of facilities and resources," Mr FitzSimons said.
Sports Minister Stuart Ayres has been on a media blitz this morning defending the decision.
He told ABC Sydney: "I think the key point for us is that over a 20-year period NSW has gone from being the best-placed state to host sport and major events in Australia, to just about the worst-placed state."
Politically, it is dividing the State Government with many backbenchers seething over the plan.
The ABC has spoken to dozens of Lower and Upper House MPs and all bar one raised their concern about the decision, while their anger was palpable.
"It's a f***ing disgrace."
"It's political poison."
"This will kill us."
"This is a terrible decision."
"It's crap."
"It's all about Stuart [Ayres] holding Penrith but I don't think it will help him and it's given Labor a war chest."
'It will be used against us'
The Members did not hold back.
Some said they have received dozens of emails from constituents others said only a few emails and phone calls have come in, but they expect that to grow.
One member from a safe Liberal seat said: "It's a bit prickly fronting up to a school waiting in line for funding and looking at $2 billion on stadiums."
A number of senior MPs raised their concern about the narrative this creates for the Opposition.
"It will be used against us in every other decision we make," one said.
"Labor has a narrative they can use every day until the next election … 'you can't have that money for the school but you can have $2b on stadiums,'" said another.
The growing resentment amongst Coalition backbenchers is the last thing the Premier needs.
Her predecessor Mike Baird faced similar resentment when he made the decision to ban greyhound racing, a decision he was forced to reverse three months later.
At the time, party members were unhappy he made the decision and didn't take it to the partyroom for a vote.
Ms Berejiklian has now done the same thing and that's put her team offside.
Premier's relationship with MPs being tested
One Liberal said: "It's crap, there was no consultation with the party, at the end of the day we have to win an election, people want their schools and hospitals, not knocking down a 17-year-old stadium."
The ABC was also told senior Cabinet ministers voiced their objection to the decision when it was made two weeks ago, including Treasurer Dominic Perrottet.
The problem for the Premier is her ministers will fall into line, but the backbenchers are not as easily pleased.
This Government is now seven years in, and relationships between the Premier and her MPs are being tested.
They're wary of a greyhound-style revolt from the community and wary their leader won't listen.
These are the MPs needed to sell the plan, but it's difficult when 98 per cent of them don't support it.
Former Labor premier Bob Carr told the ABC last week: "Like the greyhound decision, it's going to haunt this government until it's revised."
