Former Health Minister Michael Ferguson says he was always going to relinquish the health portfolio and is pleased to be given the massive infrastructure portfolio.
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A philosophical Mr Ferguson said the Premier's decision to remove him from health was "a good decision and I welcome it".
"The Premier and I had a discussion after the last election and we basically did agree that during the term of the Parliament, when there was a reshuffle, that I would move in a new direction with the very large reforms achieved and with the new infrastructure coming to a completion it would be a good thing for us to do it during the term," Mr Ferguson said.
"Jacquie Petrusma is such a dear friend and a trusted colleague. Her illness of course has been the reason for the need for a reshuffle.
"So the timing was a little bit out of our hands in this case but at the same time I think people understand that we are all human and we need to give Jacquie that opportunity to focus on her health and not miss the opportunity for fresh eyes in the health portfolio with Sarah [Courtney]."
Mr Ferguson conceded his five years in the challenging health portfolio had been "very, very hard work" but he was always focussed on how to "do better for the public".
Mr Ferguson said he was not going to "wear my heart on my sleeve" but conceded there had been "dark moments".
The "magnificent" support of his wife Julie, three children, his parents, Liberal colleagues and Bass voters had carried him through the difficult times.
"I had wonderful support in the Liberal Party and beautiful loving supportive people in my family who have kept me going," he said.
"Look anybody who's doing something that's really important and very difficult is going to have dark moments and of course I've had those times."
Mr Ferguson said he understood the health system at times "lets people down" but believed hospitals were safer than ever before, there were specialists at the Launceston General Hospital that "had only ever been dreamed of" and record health funding.
He said he regarded every day as a blessing and tried to find "purpose in difficult times and turn it into a positive thing".
Mr Ferguson holds no animosity towards colleague and Speaker Sue Hickey who called for him to resign.
He believes his five years as Health Minister was "somewhat of a record" and Ms Hickey will remain a member of the Liberal Party.
"Sue's a member of the team and she's made it clear that she's going to stick with the team for the duration of the Parliament," he said.
"I've done the hardest job in government for five years and the Premier has given me a key role in leading economic growth and the state's biggest ever infrastructure spend.
"I think that people who voted for our government will think that this is a huge opportunity for me having worked my tail off in the health in the health portfolio previously."
Mr Ferguson says he is not disappointed he will not be minister when the extensions to the Royal Hobart Hospital are opened.
"You don't do any of it to get your name on a plaque. It is about representing our community and working for them in Parliament and being a minister for them is about improving our Tasmanian quality of life and looking after people," he said.
He is also adamant that Tasmanians are sick of health being a political football.
"They want politicians to work together," he said.