The Premier Lara Giddings has decided the state cannot afford to pay for AFL games at Bellerive.
The Government was considering a proposal for North Melbourne to play two games a year from next season in Hobart.
The Premier says she cannot justify spending $500,000 a year while the state faces financial challenges.
"A time when we are having to cut back in key areas like education and health and police we just cannot put money into football," Ms Giddings said.
She says she is confident of securing third party backing for AFL matches at Bellerive that would mean no money would come from the state budget.
She hopes to announce a deal early this week.
Tags: states-and-territories, australian-football-league, hobart-7000, launceston-7250, ulverstone-7315 First posted June 5, 2011 13:21:00