Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman jets to Canberra with a tale of the island's health system in crisis and in need of support.
The Liberal leader and Treasurer Peter Gutwein will on Thursday travel to the nation's capital with their caps in hand as the state's hospitals struggle to cope with demand.
"It is pleasing to see there is talk of increased funding for health," Mr Hodgman said of the likely agenda of Friday's Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting.
"We're reforming our health system, we're investing in infrastructure, we are investing in reducing hospital waiting lists but we have a system that's in crisis and we need to do more and we look forward to having a conversation with the federal government about the role they will play in that regard."
The meeting, attended by state and territory leaders, is due to discuss a long-term vision for health reform, including a new hospital funding scheme, which could start as early as July 2017 if agreement is reached.
"It is a great opportunity for us to plot out a way forward for our state, especially when it comes to funding essential services," Mr Hodgman said of the meeting.
"It's something we are always keen to discuss with the federal government, but on the basis we will not do anything or argue for anything that will leave Tasmania worse off.
"My job is to go to Canberra and represent the state's interests. We have in the past done so with good effect and we've protected Tasmania's position."
The federal government's proposed state-based income tax funding model will be another hot topic on the agenda, with Mr Hodgman willing to discuss the plan on the proviso that Tasmania be granted special-needs status.
The island state's other burning issue, that of energy supply worries and how to future-proof the sector, is unlikely to get a mention at Friday's meeting, but Mr Hodgman said he's already had discussions with interstate counterparts.
"We've started a conversation ... we've engaged the Commonwealth on that front, it will require looking at the national electricity market arrangements, so it is ongoing work," the premier said.
