TASMANIA'S Commissioner for Children wants to continue her work beyond a three-year contract that ends in October.
Commissioner Aileen Ashford said it would make sense for her to continue in the role while its powers and functions were considered as part of a broader law review.
"Three years is not a long time in which to achieve what you want to achieve, and generally such appointments are made for five years," she said.
Today, a committee will meet stakeholders to discuss a review into the state Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act.
Among other things, the committee is considering whether the commissioner's powers are adequate to carry out her functions.
Ms Ashford, who has put a formal submission into the committee, said the premise of the question was wrong.
"They are asking whether I have the right powers to enable me to carry out my functions, but I'm saying they should be asking what functions the commissioner needs to have, and then what powers will be needed to carry out those functions," Ms Ashford said.
She is pushing for an overhaul of the act, which she described as "cumbersome".
She has also been critical in the past week of a lack of action from the government on child protection.
Over the past few years, 13 reports have been handed down into child protection containing more than 600 recommendations.
Department of Health and Human Services deputy secretary Des Graham has defended staff, saying a lot of important work has and is being carried out.
