In a brief statement to the assembly, chair of the standing committee into economic development and tourism Jeremy Hanson called for public submissions to the inquiry.

"The proposal to construct a new convention centre has attracted tripartisan in the assembly," Mr Hanson said.

He said the inquiry would look at the level of demand from business and clients for a new centre, the likely economic impact of a new centre on Canberra and whether the Australia Forum has the support of stakeholders required to take the project to the investment ready stage.

It would also examine the appropriate source of funding, federal, territory or private sector for each stage of the project, and the level of priority which should be given to a new convention centre in relation to other infrastructure projects in the ACT.

Last month the ACT government said the new national convention centre could not be built unless the federal government helped to foot the bill.

While the Australia Forum was first priced at about $433 million, the cost rose to $700 million in 2015 and could now be as high as $900 million, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said in February committee hearings.

The government had planned to spend $8 million in the year from July preparing an investment-ready proposal but that was shelved early in February.

Written submissions to the inquiry should be lodged by May 8.