Speaking on ABC television this morning, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Bill Shorten said suggestions that the GST threshold is to be lowered are premature.

"What some of the retailers are saying is that with the high dollar and all of this, it is undermining the shops in Australia," he said. "It is not clear cut what to do."

"Certainly there is no policy proposition about a GST for online shopping but what is happening is there is a debate emerging from retailers in Australia which feel that the $1000 threshold [under which GST does not apply] is too high.

"We'll have to work something out and see if it is administratively feasible -- it is only at that stage. I think to add anything else on to it was just speculation..."

The comments follow calls by Harvey Norman chief executive, Gerry Harvey, that the GST should be applied to products bought from overseas online retailers.