Former Labor minister Allison Ritchie said she and lawyer Sebastian Buscemi were seeking a meeting with Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff to address concerns about the process.

"They're not allowing people to come in and name names," Ms Ritchie said.

"The Minister made it obvious in the original release they would not be looking at individual allegations.

"If you don't allow people to come in and identify wrongdoers, you're wasting your time.

"It's (about) how wrongdoers were protected and moved around (from school to school after allegations or suspicions of child sexual abuse emerged).

"The only way to understand that is to allow people to speak openly in a protected environment ... say what they know.

"If all they allow to be considered is systemic failures that don't identify individuals, there's a big problem.

"People are the system."

A government spokesperson said: "If any matters arise as a result of this inquiry that indicate criminal conduct has occurred or that a child is at risk, it will be immediately referred on to be dealt with by the appropriate authorities, according to our strong current legal framework."

"This, of course includes referring matters to police.

"Any suggestion that evidence of criminal conduct will be ignored as part of this inquiry is misleading and false."

Attorney-General Elise Archer on Monday announced two high-profile legal figures - professors Tim McCormack and Stephen Smallbone - would lead the inquiry.

The professors said: "The inquiry will examine legislation, policies, practices and other systems relevant to safeguarding children and young people in Tasmanian government schools."

"This will involve examining past and present systems and identifying potential improvements for the future."

Ms Ritchie said the issue was the terms of reference, rather than who would run the inquiry.

"There should be a process that if there are serious allegations they should be referred for further inquiries by police or whatever," she said.

"Some of the literature seems to say directly it will not go through individual cases.

"That troubles us.

"I'm worried about a whitewash."

The terms of reference released by Mr Rockliff in August said the inquiry would: