Mr Hodgman had questions thrown at him from both sides of the house, and did not get a rest until the halfway point.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White got the ball rolling by asking the Premier why there were not more “independent appraisals” of hospital deaths in Tasmania.

Mr Hodgman said attaining the “best outcome” for patients was vital.

“Health is our priority and that will be reflected in this week’s state budget,” he said.

It was then Bass Greens MHA Andrea Dawkins’ turn to needle the Premier, asking him what sort of treatment the newly-announced Controlled Access Scheme for medical cannabis would offer cancer patients.

The scheme will largely provide for sufferers of severe epilepsy.

The Premier noted there were expert reference groups to assist patients with cancer, and that information regarding the Controlled Access Scheme would be made available to these patients on the Department of Health and Human Services website.

Answering a Dorothy Dixer from Liberal backbencher Roger Jaensch, Mr Hodgman fired a shot at the Opposition Leader, zeroing in on a comment she made on the weekend which alluded to an alternative budget potentially being concocted by Labor.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein gave the Premier some much-needed respite, taking the floor to reply to another Dorothy Dixer regarding the state of Tasmania’s economy.

Mr Gutwein predicted that Thursday’s budget would deliver the biggest surplus Tasmania has seen in a decade.

The Premier was forced to his feet again when Greens leader Cassy O’Connor dredged up the government’s controversial forest legislation once more, which she said had been “sitting upstairs” for weeks.

Ms O’Connor suggested the legislation would be debated in the upper house on Thursday, the same day the budget is due to be handed down.

“Why are you so ashamed of it that you’re trying to hide your flagship policy behind the budget?” she said.

But Mr Hodgman said his government was simply committed to supporting a “sustainable growth path” for the state’s forest industry.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff notified the house that the Integrity Commission had recently conducted an investigation into the conduct of TasTAFE chief executive Stephen Conway.

It is understood that Mr Conway intends to resign from his position.

Ms White trained her sights on the Premier again when she raised the issue of health once more.

“Our hospitals in Hobart, Launceston and the North-West are struggling,” she said.

She cited a statement made by the Australian Medical Association, in which the body claimed the Tasmanian Health Service was plagued by “toxic, bureaucratic culture”.

“Premier, your government has broken our hospital system,” Ms White said.

Mr Hodgman downplayed the Opposition Leader’s assertion, saying she “points to or listens to only the loudest voice”.

Ms White, however, did not let up.

“Ignore it at your peril,” she said.

“The hospital system is unsafe at the moment.”

The Opposition Leader then informed the house that, at 11pm on Saturday night, an elderly woman with blood clots on her lungs was asked to leave the Royal Hobart Hospital because there was a bed shortage. 

The Premier said issues relating to patient care were taken “very seriously”.

“We will, indeed, make sure that matter is looked into,” he said.

Leader of Government Business Michael Ferguson effectively put an end to Question Time when he highlighted Mr Hodgman’s work-rate.

“The Premier has been on his feet for most of the morning answering questions from the Opposition,” Mr Ferguson stressed to the house.