The Tasmanian premier found out Victoria was in exclusive talks to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games through the media.
Premier Peter Gutwein last week wrote to Commonwealth Games Australia, requesting his state be considered as host.
But the Victorian government on Wednesday announced it had entered exclusive negotiations to host the 2026 games.
"I was a little disappointed in the way Commonwealth Games Australia dealt with this," Mr Gutwein told reporters.
"The first I heard that they were exclusively dealing with Victoria was through the media."
But Mr Gutwein said Tasmania's bid was still on the table.
"I've been very strongly of the view that we could co-host a number of sports," he said. "I make no apologies for being aspirational.
"We are as good as anywhere in this country and anywhere on this planet."
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he would not comment on other states.
But the premier noted if Victoria's bid was successful, the 2026 games would shift away from Melbourne and instead be set in the regions.
Mr Andrews said that would drive investment in the state's infrastructure and tourism sectors.
"It's something new, it's something unique, it's something very special," he said. "Regional Victoria will be better off for this."
Regional Cities Victoria chair Kim O'Keeffe agreed, saying the regions were primed to host major events.
"The Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 was a great success," she said.
"A Victorian Commonwealth Games in 2026 that is hosted across the state would truly be an event to remember."
City of Ballarat Mayor Daniel Moloney said years of investing in the region's sporting facilities placed the city in a good position to host the games.
City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Andrea Metcalf said her city also had the infrastructure to host sports like tennis, basketball, and volleyball.
Cr Metcalf said sharing the hosting duties would allow all of regional Victoria to benefit economically.
But while regional councils have welcomed the announcement, advocacy group Save Victorian Events said the 2026 games would do little to help the state's struggling events sector.
"While the promise of work for some in four year's time is welcome, there finally needs to be some focus on helping our industry get through the year ahead and to rebuild," the group said in a statement.
Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy said the government also needed to ensure it was not "flippant" with Victorians' money.
"These things come at tax payers' cost and we need to manage these things responsibly," Mr Guy said.
The Commonwealth Games Federation will assess Victoria's submission before naming the host for the 2026 games.
The games last came to Victoria in 2006, when Melbourne played host.