Tasmanian Treasurer hopeful of GST exemption for Hobart stadium

When asked about the exemption during a visit to Devonport this week, Mr Albanese said it appeared that the state government did not understand how the GST formula worked.

"The GST formula applies everywhere, so it doesn't make a difference for things like the Brisbane Olympic Games ... where there's far more expenditure than is being given for the Macquarie Point precinct," he said.

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The federal government committed $240 million to the Macquarie Point precinct redevelopment that will include a new stadium.

Labor's Dean Winter said without an exemption, the state was likely to effectively pay for all but $20 million of the stadium's costs.

"The cost is likely to be well over $1 billion at a time where Tasmania's net debt position is scheduled to hit record levels," he said.

"The time to negotiate a GST exemption for the $240 million Macquarie Point precinct was when the deal was being negotiated.

"The reason an exemption was not in the deal was because Jeremy Rockliff did not ask for one."

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Mr Winter said a formal request to the federal government was only sent once Labor raised the issue during a session of question time.

Mr Ferguson said the federal treasurer was the only person by law who was able to provide an exemption and he had so far not provided a response to the request.

"We expect the answer to be yes," he said.

"We require the federal government to treat Tasmania fairly.

"I think that the Prime Minister's comments to me did not rule out the GST exemption being provided at all."

Mr Ferguson said the government had enquired into the potential impact of GST not being excluded from the federal funding, but it could not ascertain a firm answer.

"The impact shouldn't be assumed to be the full 240 (million) in any case," he said.

Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam in a statement took a different view to his state colleague.

"In a shocking act of disrespect, Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses Labor government will force Tasmania to pay the whole $240 million Hobart stadium Commonwealth contribution that was announced earlier this year by not making an exemption for our GST calculation," he said.

"This move by Labor will rip away $240 million in Tasmanias agency and ability to fund essential infrastructure, health and education needs."

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