The Victorian government has slammed the door on a potential Commonwealth Games partnership with Tasmania.
The Tasmanian government had hoped the state could join forces with greater Victoria to stage the 2026 Commonwealth Games by hosting a variety of hand-picked events as part of a co-hosting partnership.
But Victorian minister for sport and major events Martin Pakula told the ABC that Tasmanian involvement in hosting the games was highly unlikely.
"I wouldn't have thought so," Mr Pakula said.
"What we have is an agreement to hold the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, predominantly regional Victoria, and that's what we'll be focused on."
Last week, the Victorian government announced it had entered exclusive negotiations with Commonwealth Games Australia about hosting the 2026 games.
Mr Gutwein expressed his "disappointment" that he was not informed of the news before it was announced through the media.
But Commonwealth Games Australia told the ABC it was unable to share details with the Tasmanian government due to a confidentiality agreement with Victoria.
The greater Victoria bid was originally launched in 2017 with the intention of staging the games in 2030, but has been pushed forward and now looks set to win hosting rights for 2026.
A Commonwealth Games Australia spokesperson said Tasmania's potential involvement in the games was now a matter for discussion between Tasmania and Victoria, but those hopes appear dashed.
As of Friday, the Tasmanian government's position had changed with hopes of staging large-scale events such as rowing, mountain biking or potentially cricket, pared back.
"Obviously there are training camps, there are acclimatisation visits for the multitude of countries that might wish to come in the future," Mr Gutwein said.
Stakeholders in the dark about bid
On February 10, the ABC revealed that then-sports minister Jane Howlett and Mr Gutwein had co-signed a letter to Commonwealth Games Australia which "formally requested" that Tasmania be "given consideration as a host state for the 2026 Commonwealth Games".
"We are confident we can work collaboratively with Commonwealth Games Australia on the opportunities Tasmania presents as either a host or co-host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games," the letter said.
But local stakeholders have been kept largely in the dark about the bid.
The Tasmanian branch of Commonwealth Games Australia is the latest to reveal it only found out about the state's Commonwealth Games aspirations when the ABC broke news of a potential bid last week.
"I was aware there were some closed-door discussions going on from involvement with the national Commonwealth Games Australia but I wasn't quite sure if Tasmania was in that, but it looks like it was," president Brendan Hanigan said.
After news of the potential bid broke, Mr Gutwein shifted focus away from Tasmania solely hosting the games, suggesting Tasmania was more likely to co-host or partner with greater Victoria's bid to host the event.
"If regional Victoria is the leading bid in the country, why wouldn't we look to co-host with them, those sports where there is an opportunity," Mr Gutwein said on February 10.
But later that day, Shepparton mayor and greater Victoria bid task force member Kim O'Keefe told the ABC she was unaware of the Tasmanian government's desire to partner with them.
"I'm really interested in hearing what they've got to say in regard to what they think could work."
"I'm really unsure what they're hoping to achieve, but I'm happy to listen to that."
Mr Hanigan agreed that hosting lead-up or qualifying events was more feasible.
"Maybe our role for these games is to try and put our hand up and say, let's have some training camps, let's welcome some of the countries out of the northern hemisphere winter to acclimatise in Tasmania before the games," he said.
Sports minister stripped of portfolio
It was also revealed last week that Communities Tasmania, which is the department responsible for the promotion of sport and recreation in Tasmania, was not involved in the decision to express interest in hosting or co-hosting the games.
A Right to Information request lodged by Tasmanian Labor requesting "any information, including emails, relating to a Tasmanian bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games" found "no relevant information".
The ABC revealed the state government was keen to host or co-host the games after making enquiries about the state's desire to be involved, with no confirmed host city or region for the games, which are just four years away.
The government's affirmative response came on the same day education minister Sarah Courtney quit politics and was attributed to sports minister Jane Howlett.
Ms Howlett has since been stripped of the sport and recreation portfolio as part of a cabinet re-shuffle due to Ms Courtney's departure.
The portfolio was handed to new minister Nic Street.
It came despite Mr Gutwein labelling Ms Howlett as "one of the most successful [sports ministers] in the history of the state".
Mr Gutwein also confirmed it was his choice to hand the sport and recreation portfolio to Mr Street, rather than Ms Howlett's decision to give it up.
"These decisions always rest at the premier's door," Mr Gutwein said.
The Commonwealth Games Federation is likely to announce greater Victoria as the host region for the 2026 games in April.
