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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was heckled and nearly jostled by protestors on Saturday as he pledged an additional $240 million to the state government to build a new stadium in Hobart.
Videos circulating online show placard-waving protestors opposed to the government's commitment of funding to the stadium proposal crowding Mr Albanese as he made his way from the press conference with Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff.  
'What this project will be is a very significant project that will lift up Tasmania and lift up this most beautiful of cities here in Hobart,' the prime minister told reporters on Saturday.
'The big picture is housing,' one woman yelled as Mr Albanese spoke to the media.
'I think you've had your say,' the prime minister tersely responded.
'No, I haven't, you have had your say at the back of the sewerage works when no-one knows what is going on,' she continued.
The stadium funding was announced on Saturday to go towards redeveloping Hobart's waterfront, including refreshing crown land from Macquarie Point to Regatta Point, core funding for the stadium, as well as transport infrastructure, port upgrades and housing, the government said.
'This is an exciting project,' the prime minister said.
'The truth is that more should have been done over the last decade.'
The announcement to build the Macquarie Point sporting facility had been widely tipped this week, after the AFL said Tasmania's entry to the competition could only happen with the construction of the $715 million stadium.
The additional $375 million will come from the Tasmanian government, and $15 million will come from the AFL, and another $85 million will come from commercial land sales.
 Mr Albanese was heckled by some protestors during the announcement.
'We want affordable housing, not a stadium, affordable housing,' one person shouted as Mr Albanese asked for questions from the media pack.
The deal was confirmed by Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff shortly before he appeared with the prime minister in Hobart.
'As I said, I don't want to sit back in 10 years time when I'm back on the farm, thinking 'you know what, if only I drove that a bit harder we might've got that',' the premier said in a tweet on Saturday.
The Albanese government has also committed $65 million to match state government funding for upgrades to UTAS stadium in Launceston.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces the federal government's $240million contribution to the Hobart stadium project alongside Tasmania Premier Jeremy Rockliff (right)
Artist's impression of the new Hobart stadium to be built at Macquarie Point in Hobart
Mr Albanese said he had been a supporter of Tasmania getting an AFL team.
'It's a very positive thing, and it's important that it be a team for the whole of Tasmania as well,' he told reporters on Friday.
'I encourage the AFL to make a positive announcement.
'There is no reason whatsoever why the great state of Tasmania shouldn't have the same access and the same representation as states on the north island.'
The UTAS Stadium redevelopment will deliver a new eastern stand, improved playing facilities and an entertainment precinct.
'Tasmania doesn't have a stadium problem.

It has a housing and homelessness problem,' Tasmanian author Richard Flanagan wrote (pictured, protestors at the prime minister's announcement on Saturday morning)
In a column written for the Nine-Fairfax newspapers, prominent Tasmanian author Richard Flanagan claimed the stadium proposal was 'wildly unpopular among many Tasmanians'. 
'Tasmania doesn't have a stadium problem.

It has a housing and homelessness problem,' Flanagan wrote.
'Tasmanian rents have increased 45 per cent in the past five years, the highest increase in the nation in the poorest state with the lowest incomes.'
Flanagan also noted Tasmania had 'Australia's worst public health system, and, with 50 per cent illiteracy, a public education problem'. 
'And while there seems to be only very limited public money and political will to address these issues, there seems to be no problem in ponying up hundreds of millions of taxpayers' dollars for a new stadium.' 



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