Speaker Sue Hickey's overseas trip is under fire

Ms Hickey will visit the House of Commons in London on Tuesday before heading to parliaments in Scotland and Ireland.

Her itinerary estimates the trip will cost $12,882. Ms Hickey is being accompanied by the House of Assembly clerk Shane Donnelly.

Ms Hickey said she expected the trip to be productive and she would prepare a report.

"I am interested in how they manage 650 members, especially as they only have 437 seats!" Ms Hickey said.

"I am also interested in the debating regulations, the behaviours of the members, the disciplines available, the history of the role and how it varies from Westminster parliament to other parliaments who also use the system.

"I am also looking at traditions and protocols, versus modern expectations and efficiencies."

Community and Public Sector Union secretary Tom Lynch said the trip was "totally unnecessary".

"Nothing has changed in the Tasmanian Parliament for her to find out about," Mr Lynch said.

"Her professional development needs to be sitting in the chair and confronting the issues facing everyday Tasmanians.

"In every part of the state there is a crisis. Parliament was prorogued and has very few sitting weeks and that should be her focus."

Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday said the trip was "poorly timed and lacking judgement".

"It is galling when union members are told there is no money for pay rises," Ms Munday said.

"She needs to demonstrate the value of the trip - she has been there a year and is doing a pretty good job

"Just because others have gone before it not a good enough reason to follow.

"Professional development for a worker is usually a day or two training course if they are lucky."

Former Labor speaker Michael Polley defended the trip which he and most other Speakers have taken since 1979.

"Sue Hickey has only been in Parliament 12 months and I had 10 years in Parliament when I went and it will only benefit her role," Mr Polley said.

"It is sensible she goes now and not in two years. She will be able to look at the impartiality of the Speaker in other Westminster systems."

Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the offer to look at other parliaments was open to all Speakers.

"Any learnings from such a trip to make it more productive a parliament, well the Tasmanian Parliament will benefit from that," he said.

Political analyst Professor Richard Herr said given Ms Hickey's approach to the job of Speaker he did not expect she would "find much support for her policy oriented speakership in Westminster".