Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has visited Tasmania to help rally the troops ahead of a looming state poll, but there was no escaping national issues, with a homegrown senator poking fun at the citizenship saga plaguing the Government.

At the gathering of Liberal Party faithful in Launceston, Senator Johnathan Duniam was brandishing a copy of Tasmanian constitutional author Andrew Inglis Clark's 1891 draft of the constitution, which contained provisions about eligibility for parliament — that members could be disqualified for actively seeking citizenship of a foreign country.

"Just imagine if we'd adopted Andrew Inglis Clark's constitution," Senator Duniam said during his address to the room, with an eye on Mr Turnbull.

"What would journalists have spoken about for the last four weeks?

"So my advice, PM, is next time a Tasmanian comes to you with an idea, snatch it and run."

Mr Turnbull's address to the party faithful canvassed national security, federal energy plans and free trade agreements, which he said were benefitting Tasmanian businesses.

"The lifestyle, economic growth here in Tasmania, the opportunities we have here in Tasmania are the envy of the nation," he said.

"Under the leadership of Will Hodgman and Jeremy Rockliff, the fortunes of this state have been transformed.

"Confidence, optimism, resilience has once again returned to Tasmania."

Malcolm Turnbull tells the party faithful Tasmania is the "envy of the nation". ( ABC News: Emilie Gramenz )

Political confidence took a knock when the Liberal's "three amigos" and one senator fell to Labor at last year's federal election, with Tasmanian party director Sam McQuestin admitting the party had been "massively outgunned" by union campaigns and left-wing lobby group GetUp, which targeted the northern seat of Bass.

He warned they would need a heavy volunteer effort at the state poll, due in March.

"The Liberal Party does not have the ability to match such spends," he said.

"We do not have union thugs to support us … we do not have 80 professional staff to put in one key seat.

"Instead we rely on the volunteers who are sitting in this room today."

PM ducks silent same-sex marriage protest

The PM slipped past the same-sex marriage advocates waiting for him. ( ABC News: Emilie Gramenz )

A few dozen people staged a silent protest against the upcoming postal survey on same-sex marriage outside the conference, hoping to confront the Prime Minister as he arrived.

They were disappointed, with Mr Turnbull entering through a side door.

At the main entrance, the group held rainbow flags and signs signalling their opposition to the voluntary postal vote on same-sex marriage.

Protestor Joy Elizabeth peeled off the masking tape from her mouth to explain her message.

"A lot of money is being wasted that could be sent on things like pensions, refugees, schools, hospitals," she said.

"It's very simple; we elect a parliament and we want that parliament to vote."

Later inside, the Northern Young Liberals branch moved a motion that the State Council support the plebiscite on gay marriage.