The Tasmanian Government has moved to exempt the Children's Commissioner from Right to Information (RTI) requests, just days after appointing the Deputy Premier's chief of staff to the role.

Key points: The Deputy Premier's former chief of staff was chosen to be the new children's commissioner

The Deputy Premier's former chief of staff was chosen to be the new children's commissioner The Government has tabled amendments, drafted in August, that would make the commissioner exempt from RTI requests

The Government has tabled amendments, drafted in August, that would make the commissioner exempt from RTI requests Labor says the move will make the "secrecy that characterises this Government" go "next level"

Opposition parties have seized on the appointment of Leanne McLean to the role of the children's commissioner from her position as Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff's most senior political adviser.

Ms McLean was selected by the Human Services Minister from two recommended candidates. The other candidate was Mission Australia Tasmanian state director Noel Mundy.

She has been described as the best person for the job by the Government and selection panel member Kym Goodes, the CEO of the Tasmanian Council of Social Service, but as a political appointment by the Opposition.

In Parliament, it was revealed just two days after her appointment that the State Government tabled an amendment to the Right to Information Act that would exempt the commissioner from the process.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White questioned whether the timing was a coincidence, or an attempt to shield the Government from further scrutiny.

"The secrecy that characterises this Government will now go to the 'next level'," she said, making reference to the Tasmanian Liberals election campaign slogan.

The State Government said the anti-discrimination commissioner, custodial inspector, health complaints commissioner and the ombudsman were already excluded from the RTI process.

"That the commissioner was ever subject to RTI was an oversight in the drafting of the Commissioner for Children and Young People Act in the first place," Human Services Minister Roger Jaensch said.

Mr Jaesnch also tabled letters from Ms McLean's predecessors, which he argued proved the Government was acting on advice, and said the amendments were drafted in August.

No reason to exempt commissioner from RTIs: union

CPSU branch secretary Tom Lynch said there was no reason to exempt the commissioner from the RTI process, because confidential information relating to children would be blocked anyway.

"The Government doesn't want communications between the independent children's commissioner and the minister to be able to get out into the public," he said.

"If this was unassociated with the politicising of this office then it wouldn't have been done now, it would've been done at an earlier time," he said.

"It's not the first time there have been allegations of political interference relating to the office of the children's commissioner."

In July, a report from the Integrity Commission revealed friction between the former Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma's office and then children's commissioner, Mark Morrissey.

Mr Morrissey said Ms Petrusma's chief of staff had told him to write to the secretary of the department rather than the Minister to avoid written record of matters that could be subject to RTI laws.

Sarah Courtney asked what's in her WhatsApp

The issue of transparency is also in the Opposition's sights in relation to Government Minister Sarah Courtney, who breached the ministerial code of conduct for not revealing she was in a relationship with the head of DPIPWE John Whittington sooner.

Deputy Opposition leader Michelle O'Byrne wants Ms Courtney to release all messages, including encrypted texts relating to the affair, and details of the trade mission to Asia.

Unlike emails and text messages, encrypted messages cannot be obtained under RTI requests.

"The Minister [not releasing her WhatsApp communications] leads to the very natural question of 'was the Minister using that app to avoid scrutiny'," Ms O'Byrne said.

Ms Courtney admitted she used the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp, but would not say if the messages formed part of the reviews into her conduct.

"If the other side want to find out about expenses and diaries there are normal protocols, there are RTIs that can be put in," she said.

Ms O'Byrne said she used WhatsApp, but she was not a minister.

Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he used WhatsApp or encrypted messages to talk with his staff.

Mr Rockliff said he did not communicate with his staff on encrypted services about formal business.