Sports Minister Richard Colbeck quashes federal government providing Canberra stadium help

Sports minister Richard Colbeck says they will not waive the ACT government's Mr Fluffy loan, despite claiming upgrading sporting infrastructure was a key priority.

The debate over Canberra getting a new stadium has erupted since both the Canberra Raiders and ACT Brumbies played at the new Parramatta Stadium earlier this month.

It sparked calls for a similar arena to be built in Civic, given Canberra Stadium is almost 50 years old and past its used-by date.

That's been Chief Minister Andrew Barr's plan for several years - to build an indoor stadium potentially on the current site of the Civic pool.

The pool would need to be relocated and potentially Parkes Way realigned, with the total cost expected to be about $400 million.

But the Mr Fluffy asbestos debacle delayed the ACT government's plans when they were forced to get a $1 billion loan from their federal counterparts.

Barr said the only way his government could afford to bring forward the Civic Stadium's timeline would be if Prime Minister Scott Morrison forgave that debt.

The Chief Minister said it wouldn't be built before 2025 because his priority lay with hospitals and schools.

Governments have become worried about prioritising stadiums after it became a contentious topic in the NSW election.

That's despite the economic impact they can have in reinvigorating a city's centre, like it has with the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval.

Morrison was at the Raiders' 22-20 victory over the Cronulla Sharks, the Prime Minister's NRL team, at Canberra Stadium last week and saw first-hand why the ACT needs a new one.

He declined The Canberra Times' request for an interview, instead flick-passing the request to Colbeck.

Colbeck said the federal government was yet to receive any formal proposals from Barr for a new stadium in Canberra.

He said they wouldn't waive the loan.

"The Commonwealth is always looking to work constructively with the ACT government, however, there are no plans at this time to provide Chief Minister Barr a bailout to fund a new stadium," Colbeck said in a statement.

"Upgrading sporting infrastructure is a key priority of the Liberal national government and is best delivered through sound financial management and a strong economy."

The federal government did provide $100 million for Townsville's new 25,000 seat stadium, for a city whose population is less than half Canberra's.

Townsville lies in Herbert, which was considered the most marginal seat in last month's federal election.

Canberra, on the other hand, has three safe Labor seats.

Colbeck was also asked whether the government had made a decision on the future of the Australian Institute of Sport yet, but did not reply.

The AIS owns Canberra Stadium, which Barr wants to buy and potentially redevelop the site to help fund the Civic Stadium.