No deal on GST threshold: Hockey

The nation's treasurers have again failed to make headway on the issue of GST on imported goods.

When GST was introduced in 2000, the then treasurer Peter Costello made imported goods GST free up to $1000.

Since then there has been an explosion in online shopping, leaving Australian retailers complaining of an unfair playing field.

Federal treasurer Joe Hockey on Friday chaired a meeting in Cairns of state and territory treasurers, the beneficiaries of GST revenue.

He said when they last met in March, the Commonwealth agreed to a request from the states collectively to further explore options around lowering the $1000 GST threshold.

"States indicated today that they had not agreed a preferred workable approach on this issue," Mr Hockey said in a statement after the meeting.

The states may choose to raise this issue as part of the Abbott government's tax review white paper, he said.

He took the opportunity at Friday's meeting to discuss the progress of the Commonwealth's white papers on tax and federation.

The states will play a key role considering their responsibilities within the federation, and the taxation arrangements that will allow them to fund services the public will demand in the future.