Senator O’Brien to move on the next day of sitting:

That the following matters be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee for inquiry and report by 30 March 2009:

(a)   whether the decision of the Australian Football League (AFL) Board of Commission to prioritise admission to its competition of teams from Western Sydney and the Gold Coast over a proposed team from Tasmania is fair and equitable;

(b)   the capacity of the State of Tasmania to sustain a team in the peak national Australian Rules Football competition;

(c)   the regional implications of the establishment of an AFL team in Tasmania for economic development;

(d)   whether the AFL commissioners’ obligations to current supporters of the game override their desire to promote larger television audiences for it; and

(e)   other related matters.