Five full-time staff are still engaged in fox detection in Tasmania despite no physical evidence of foxes since 2011.

The figure was revealed in the Upper House during questioning by Windermere MLC Ivan Dean.

Under an agreement with the Federal Environment Department, Tasmania receives $500,000 a year in fox control funding.

The program to detect and kill foxes was scrapped last year, but the payments will continue until 2017.

Mr Dean sought more detail on the project from Attorney-General and the government's leader in the Upper House, Vanessa Goodwin.

She said in 2013-14 there were 110 reported fox sighting, and 48 last year.

"Despite all reports being treated in good faith the reported citing described above have not revealed the physical presence of a fox," she said.

"No physical evidence of foxes has been found in Tasmania since mid-2011."

The money from the Federal Government is being used to employ staff.

"Over the past financial year the Commonwealth funding for the project has supported an average of 5.5 FTEs (full-time equivalent positions)," she said.

There are also cameras monitoring areas of suspected fox sightings.

"Fifteen cameras are currently set up as a permanent array, although this is currently under review," Ms Goodwin said.

"To date almost 20,000 images have been reviewed, a variety of species have been captured on film including cats, dogs, Tasmanian devils, bandicoots."

None of the 20,000 images captured showed a fox.

Fox sceptic unimpressed

Mr Dean is a well-known sceptic of there being foxes still in Tasmania and believes the money is being wasted.

"You've got five FTE's working in this area, and I just wonder what can five employees be doing in an area where very clearly, on the evidence we have, there are no foxes in this state," he said.

"It just makes you wonder whether the money that's being expended, or that's being provided under the agreement, is simply being used in a way where there is no real return.

"It's an absolute nonsense and farce in my opinion."

He wants the money to be diverted to fighting the feral cat problem.

"That to me is known problem," he said.

Labor leader Bryan Green is cautious about scrapping the positions.

"The risk of foxes establishing in Tasmania is obviously worth fighting against," he said.

"If foxes did establish in Tasmania it would have such a significant effect on our endemic native species here."

The minister responsible, Jeremy Rockliff, has previously accused Labor of "chasing imaginary foxes around the state".