The commission of inquiry into state government responses to child sexual abuse in public institutions held its first public hearing on Tuesday.

It was told evidence of child sexual abuse being covered up would be examined and there was information abuse incidents were not isolated.

Premier Peter Gutwein said three state employees from the south and one from the north were being investigated over new abuse allegations.

"There are four further allegations which have been made against state service employees, two of these are contemporary matters, while two relate to historical matters," he told state parliament on Wednesday.

"They are being stood down to allow the appropriate process and investigations to take place.

"By fostering processes that encourage people to step forward we will see more cases.

"This should come as no surprise. We need to shine a light on these matters rather than leave them in the dark."

Twenty-four state service employees have now been stood down in the past 12 months due to abuse allegations, Mr Gutwein said.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government's Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings was set up in November after child sexual abuse allegations were levelled at Ashley Youth Detention Centre workers and former nurse James Geoffrey Griffin.

Counsel assisting the inquiry Maree Norton said Tasmania has been slow to implement recommendations made in 2017 by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

She said the state hadn't yet introduced a reportable conduct scheme or national principles for child-safe organisations.

Mr Gutwein told parliament of the 409 recommendations, 307 are relevant to Tasmania and, of those, 198 had been substantially or fully implemented.

He said the remainder, many of which were "complex", were being progressed.

The inquiry, which will hold public hearings in February and March, has so far obtained 21,000 documents and received 111 submissions.

Ms Norton said the inquiry had received evidence of staff at Ashley Youth Detention Centre covering up abuse, destroying records or failing to report abuse.

She said there was evidence of multiple perpetrators among staff and that older children had sexually assaulted younger detainees.

The state government in September announced the facility would be shut within three years and a new model established.

Mr Gutwein told parliament a transitioning plan would be released in coming weeks.

Ms Norton told the inquiry allegations of sexual abuse by Griffin at the Launceston General Hospital in the state's north did not appear to be limited to him.

Griffin took his own life in 2019 after being charged with a string of child sex offences.

The inquiry is expected to provide a final report in August but it will likely be delayed.

Australian Associated Press