But Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said there was no allocated money provided in the 2018-19 budget for a new needs-based funding model in schools because the government was yet to learn a definitive figure.

The issue was raised at budget estimates this week with Labor’s education spokeswoman Michelle O'Byrne questioning the government’s commitment to the model.

She said the allocated $88.85 million in special needs funding did not account for additional students who would be deemed to need funding packages or adjustments for children already receiving funding once the new model came into effect.

The budget only contained $3.25 million in funding for the Ministerial Taskforce for Students with Disability to progress the design of a needs-based funding model.

That taskforce in 2015 found there was a need to move away from Tasmania’s IQ-based disability funding model.

Ms O’Byrne said the disability sector estimated the government would need to funnel $30 to 50 million more per year to fund the reform. 

She said the omission resulted in a $90 million budget black hole.

“You have no funding for this and no commitment [from the Treasurer],” Ms O’Byrne told Mr Rockliff on Thursday.

Mr Rockliff said auditors KPMG had been paid $250,000 to produce a study which would outline a design for needs-based funding model and identify the required funding.

He said the study would also ascertain how many students would need support and in which areas.

“We are working with the sector – consulting, defining, refining – and we will know what has to be funded when we get the evidence and data,” he said.

“We need evidence and data to support an allocation of funds so I'll be in there fighting for that allocation of funds.”