After the six-week winter break the state government is poised to pursue an ambitious social agenda.

Premier Lara Giddings has promised to make a formal apology to mothers and children affected by forced adoptions in this session of Parliament. 

``No date has been set for the apology as we are still working through this delicate issue with the department and those affected by the practice,'' Ms Giddings said last week. 

The state could become the first in Australia where gay couples can legally tie the knot.

Ms Giddings has vowed to work quickly to have the matter debated, but has flagged the need to draft new legislation which could delay it to next year. 

Forestry legislation looms as the most significant and divisive issue to be dealt with before the end of the year. 

Having tabled framework legislation to protect an unknown amount of forests just before the break, the government had expected to be able to insert the key details this week and bring it on for debate. 

However, the negotiating groups are not expected to reach a final deal to determine what those figures will be for at least three weeks.

If there is agreement, the resulting bill is likely to get the support of the Greens to pass the lower house, but all eyes will be on the reaction of the Legislative Council where the majority of members are fiercely pro-forestry.  

In the meantime, the Liberals will take any opportunity to grill the government on the issue.

Opposition Deputy Leader Jeremy Rockliff said the Liberals would pursue the government over the ``disastrous forestry deal and joke of an interim agreement''. 

The government is also keen to put job creation at the top of its parliamentary agenda.  

Ms Giddings will this month table the itinerary for an upcoming trade delegation to Asia with details of the businesses and organisations joining her.  

``Making the most of the `Asian Century' is an important part of the state government's plans to reinvigorate the Tasmanian economy and create jobs,'' Ms Giddings said. 

Legislation to restore the House of Assembly to 35 seats is also an outside possibility to be debated this year.

It's not the highest priority for the government, but the Greens have vowed to test support for the move by the end of the year. 

``I don't think we are at a point where it is appropriate to return to the debate about increasing the size of Parliament,'' Ms Giddings said. 

The Greens named the Devonport-bound super trawler and marriage equality as among the key issues they planned to pursue in Parliament. 

In the Legislative Council, a bill to legalise altruistic surrogacy will be debated after the government agreed to key changes. 

The House of Assembly has so far sat for 21 days this year, with 20 to go before Christmas, plus nine days of committee hearings. 

Last year the House sat for 47 days. 

In Canberra the House of Representatives has scheduled 61 days for the year.