Refugees on way to Tas: premier

Tasmania is poised to receive its first intake of Syrian refugees from last year's migrant crisis by the end of 2016, Premier Will Hodgman says.

It's been almost a year since the island state's Liberal government committed to more than its per capita national share by offering to take 500 additional people displaced from Syria and Iraq, and the administration was quizzed in parliament on Thursday about when the asylum seekers will reach Tasmania.

"We are looking forward to welcoming them when they are processed by the Commonwealth government ... we are hoping and expecting that the first families will arrive in the state before the end of the year," the premier said.