In a budget estimates hearing, Mr Ferguson said in a situation where an ambulance is warranted, police are not sent instead.

"They may be sent as a supplement," Mr Ferguson said.

Mr Ferguson said because police officers are mental health officers they may be the appropriate first responder to attend an incident.

"If police officers are closer than an ambulance, it might be entirely appropriate for police officers to assist in that circumstance," he said.

"It is actually part of police duties, and shouldn't be conflated with any claims on how busy Ambulance Tasmania officers could be."

Labor's police spokesman Shane Broad sought numbers for how many instances police officers attended in this capacity to be informed this data is not collected because it is part of everyday policing.

Tasmania Police Deputy Commissioner Scott Tilyard said work was being done to address instances of police resources being taken up by non-priority duties such as being court escourts.

Deputy Commissioner Tilyard said the Department of Justice has taken over the responsibilities for police in court sessions and prisoner transfer after hours in the North and the South of the state, with this handover for the North West still being discussed.

"The definition of core and non-core police duties has always been a vexed questions," Deputy Commissioner Tilyard said.

"We are one of the only 24/7 services.

"If we are called on to assist people in life-threatening situations, or emergency situations, so of course we are going to respond.

"There's many instances where we may be called upon to assist Ambulance Tasmania."