Sydney Football Stadium will be demolished less than three months before the 2019 state election but Labor is still opposing the knock-down.
The Department of Planning and Environment on Friday approved the first stage of Allianz Stadium's $730 million redevelopment at Moore Park, with demolition to start in January.
Lendlease will build the new stadium, which is expected to be completed by early 2022.
But Labor leader Michael Daley promised taxpayers won't pay for the project if he wins next year's state election.
Instead, he'll offer a loan to a private group or the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust to rebuild the city stadium.
Australian Associated Press