Those were consequences of the 1998 slashing of Tasmania’s House of Assembly from  35 members to 25, according to McIntyre independent MLC Greg Hall.

“It (increasing MP numbers) would probably not be a popular thing, but the parliament has been proven to be almost dysfunctional at times in the lower house,” Mr Hall said.

He plans to seek Legislative Council support this week  for a motion that it call upon the next state government to establish an independent panel to consider the effectiveness “or otherwise” of the size of parliament in delivering effective government and the operation of parliament.

Premier Will Hodgman said increasing numbers would not be policy at the election.

Labor Leader Rebecca White said it was not a priority, but Labor would be open to discussion if the budget situation improved.

The Greens have consistently supported an increase.

Mr Hall hoped his idea would be considered by the parties and a panel would be appointed early in  the next term of government, “otherwise they will go to water”.

“As for it costing a lot of money, they replaced  elected people with a lot of unelected people with extremely high salaries and wages,” Mr Hall said.

”You’ve got ministers who are overworked because they have too many portfolios and they’re having decisions made for them by senior bureaucrats.

“That’s concerning and sometimes gets senior ministers into trouble.

“I think the three parties should forget the populism stuff.

“They signed off on something in 2010, then some of them changed their minds.”

He said most political commentators agreed cutting MPs was a mistake.

Mr Hall will also ask the Legislative Council to support giving up its power to reject government money bills and replacing it with a cooling off period.

“How can a Legislative Council block a budget and send the government of the day to an election when we sit back and watch it?” he said.

“It’s a power we just don’t need.”

He said it was last used in 1948.