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.
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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.