Federal funding for proposed Macquarie Point stadium to be exempt from GST payments to Tasmania

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The $240 million in Commonwealth funds for the Macquarie Point stadium and precinct will now be exempt from GST calculations, leaving more money to the state.

Transcript

00:00A huge win for stadium supporters.

00:04It's not an Australian football league if it leaves off the South Island.

00:09But it turned out the money wasn't GST exempt, meaning it would reduce Tasmania's GST share

00:15over a number of years.

00:17The state government lobbied the feds, but struggled to get the answer it wanted.

00:22It will change.

00:23We will get that exemption, but we'll now have to fight even harder for it.

00:27The gloves are off.

00:28Macquarie Point Stadium GST, if you wouldn't mind, is a beginning for you, Prime Minister.

00:33You get asked every time you're here, but you're going to grant an exemption.

00:36And we give the same answer, so refer to previous answer.

00:40Well, the answer's changed.

00:42Today, we're pleased to be able to announce that the stadium funds of $240 million that

00:47are being provided by the federal Labor government will be GST exempt.

00:51Isn't that interesting?

00:52We have a federal election on the way.

00:54I wonder if that has anything to do with this backflip by federal Labor.

00:58And everyone, including the federal Liberals, is keen to claim credit.

01:02It's crazy that an independent senator for Tasmania can make this happen when other political

01:07colour cannot.

01:08If it wasn't for Tasmanian Labor again pushing this government to do the right thing for

01:12Tasmanians, we wouldn't have seen this outcome today.

01:14I say it's a Team Tasmania approach because I noticed today so many others taking credit

01:20for this backflip.

01:23It was never clear exactly how much Tasmania stood to lose if the money wasn't exempted.

01:28What this decision means is more money for essential services like health and education.

01:34Of course, it's a poor barn for stadium opponents, who would rather see any government funding

01:39towards the stadium redirected to those vital services.

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