Documents released under Right to Information this week show Commonwealth Games Australia chief executive officer Craig Phillips approached Mr Hodgman in 2018, to which he replied that the state was "not in a position" to make a bid.

He instead suggested Tasmania could stage pre-game tournaments or act as a training base.

There was no further correspondence until February 10 this year, when Mr Gutwein wrote to Mr Phillips saying he was open to discussions about either hosting or co-hosting the 2026 games.

Mr Gutwein wrote that "a lot has changed since 2018" and highlighted the state hosting an Ashes test, two AFL finals and 12 regular season matches, and more Big Bash League matches.

This letter was sent the same day former education minister Sarah Courtney announced her resignation.

Mr Gutwein had touted the state's sporting facilities as capable of hosting Commonwealth Games competitions, making special mention of Lake Barrington's rowing facilities. But Labor's Shane Broad - himself a rower - pointed out that rowing has not featured in the Commonwealth Games since 1986.

Dr Broad said hosting the games could cost $2 billion - as per advice to the Premier - and he doubted whether it was a serious bid.

"If we are to believe that, that means that you were willing to sign Tasmanian taxpayers up to an enormous expense that would have come with hosting the games," he said.

Dr Broad said it was a clear distraction from other issues at the time, including the resignation of Ms Courtney who had faced criticism for taking a protracted European holiday in January.

"Were you being honest with the public when you claimed you were serious about bidding to host the Commonwealth Games?" he said.

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Five days after the letter, the Victorian Government announced it had entered into exclusive negotiations with Commonwealth Games Australia for the hosting rights of the 2026 event. The bid centres on using multiple regional locations to host events.

Mr Gutwein said, at the time of the letter, no formal bid had been made by any capital city in Australia and he felt Tasmania should be "aspirational".

"I hope - and we have left the door open with Commonwealth Games Australia - that there may be opportunities for Tasmania to still play some part," he said.

"I welcome the Opposition's support if we get to a point where we could have visiting international teams domicile here as they acclimatise, training camps.

"Let me make the point that Tasmania is a vastly different place today. We have a leading economy. We have record jobs. We set records week by week in this state."