Tas govt knew about welfare worries: Labor

The Tasmanian government has been forced to defend its response to news that Child Protection Services failed to act on up to 200 reports of youngsters at risk in the state's northwest.

Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma said she was first alerted to the problem on Monday when she asked for an urgent report on the matter, but Labor rejects the claim.

"She knew about it weeks ago," Opposition Leader Bryan Green said in parliament on Tuesday.