Premier Jeremy Rockliff has said that while it is debatable whether the deal signed with the AFL for a Tasmania team was "perfect", it would be humiliating to walk away from it now.

The House of Assembly late on Thursday night passed an order for the proposed Macquarie Point stadium to progress, despite opposition from most members of the crossbench.

Members voted 25 in favour to nine against.

The order will now proceed to the Legislative Council for debate early next month , where approval is less certain.

In his speech in support of the approval, Mr Rockliff said many young people who had aspired for a Tasmanian AFL team were now senior citizens.

"There's been criticism of the deal that we signed," he said.

"Was it the most perfect deal of the century? Some would say yes, others

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