Attorney-General Brian Wightman today challenged the State Opposition to name up its real position on independent public sector appointments.

Mr Wightman said it was staggering that a Liberal spokesman was quoted in today's media as saying the Liberals supported independent panels when it came to public sector appointments given the attack they mounted last week on the very same process.

"This is a massive contradiction to everything that Liberal MP Vanessa Goodwin was saying last week," he said.

"Dr Goodwin was adamant just days ago that the Government was 'outsourcing recruitment responsibilities' by using independent panels.

"She said: 'I just think it's an extraordinary decision and I am really struggling to comprehend it'." *

Mr Wightman said she went on to say: 'The fact that the Government outsourced at least part of this decision to an independent panel doesn't excuse it from actually wearing responsibility'. *

"The Liberals clearly do not support using independent panels to assess and recommend such appointments," he said.

"Public servants should be concerned that the Liberals would blatantly politicise public sector appointments by riding roughshod over the independent panel process.

"They are treating Tasmanians with utter contempt with this ridiculous notion only a few days after launching a politically-motivated attack on an independent panel appointment that they now somehow support the principle.

"It's high time Dr Goodwin front the media and explain this blatant contradiction by answering a very simple question - if the Liberals support independent panels to assess and make recommendations when it comes to senior public servant appointments, why was she so intent to criticise such an appointment just a few days ago?"

* ABC Statewide Mornings, July 5.