The Government said that the ad was commissioned in late 2007 to promote the Tasmanian brand as part of a broader Brand Tasmania campaign.

In information released to the Tasmanian Greens yesterday, the Government confirmed the advertisement was never aired after a review of the Brand Tasmania campaign early last year.

It was revealed the ad cost almost $440,000, the Government saying costs included:

•$20,000 for media planning.

•$25,000 for music rights.

•$24,000 in management fees.

•$20,000 in concept fees.

•$348,000 for production costs.

Money spent on air time for the ad on SBS was subsequently exchanged for credit after the Government axed the ad.

And while the Premier has said the ad will never go to air, material shot for the ad could be used in other campaigns from Brand Tasmania.

In Parliament yesterday, the Premier said that the ad was both filmed and canned while Paul Lennon was premier.

"I would prefer to see money like that spent on housing, on people in need and on education," Mr Bartlett said.

"The advertisement was shot - for reasons unknown to me, the former Premier decided not to press ahead with that project.

"You would have to ask him about that."

Mr Bartlett said that the ad would "not be run on my watch".

The Examiner put a series of questions to both Premier David Bartlett and Treasurer and Economic Development Minister Michael Aird about the ad - including details of when the ad was shot, what music was secured for $25,000, and whether any material shot for the ad has since been used in other campaigns.

The only response was a statement from a Government spokeswoman, repeating the material provided to the Greens and including an extract detailing the Premier's answer to Parliament yesterday.

Tasmanian Greens leader Nick McKim said that a more detailed response is needed.

"This is half a million dollars of taxpayers' money wasted by the Government," he said.

"They have a responsibility to provide full answers to questions like what were the music rights and other aspects of these ads."