Neither of the possible frontrunners to replace Premier Peter Gutwein confirmed whether they were interested in the top job after the sudden announcement on Monday.
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Deputy premier Jeremy Rockliff would rather allow the first day to be about Mr Gutwein, while infrastructure minister Michael Ferguson made a social media post thanking the outgoing Premier.
Yet the transition to new leadership could be more difficult than in 2020, when Mr Gutwein and Mr Rockliff were elected after Mr Ferguson withdrew to ensure they were unopposed. This time, the cabinet has less experience - without former health minister Sarah Courtney and soon Mr Gutwein - and has come through a period of four political challenges.
First was the drop in popularity due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus since December 15. Second was Ms Courtney's resignation followed criticism of the timing of her European holiday. The third involved the resignation of sport minister Jane Howlett and subsequent allegations of a conflict of interest. And last was the drawn-out debate around cabinet ministers audibly groaning at a question asked on behalf of a victim-survivor of child abuse, ultimately resulting in Mr Gutwein disclosing his own history as a victim of child sexual abuse.
The last of those drew in Mr Ferguson and Attorney-General Elise Archer, who eventually offered an apology in Parliament after sustained questioning, and education minister Roger Jaensch who was recorded on Hansard and immediately apologised.
Whether this had an impact on the popularity of the senior cabinet ministers within the partyroom remains to be seen.
Mr Gutwein described the recent turmoil as "the sort of ups and downs that you have in political life", and that they had little bearing on his decision to resign. Instead, it came down to him no longer being able to offer "110 per cent" to the role.
"What I have found after the last two years especially, that I have nothing left in the tank to give," he said.
"I have worked as hard as I possibly can every single day that I have been Premier."
The partyroom will meet later this week to decide on the leadership, at which time Mr Gutwein will officially resign.
His resignation from Parliament opens up the second recount in Bass in the space of just over a month, after Liberal Lara Alexander replaced Ms Courtney in late February.
In that recount, she finished ahead of former Launceston councillor and fellow Liberal Simon Wood. This time, Mr Wood was likely to benefit from Mr Gutwein's preferences due to their shared Launceston connection, whereas other Liberal Greg Kieser - the mayor of George Town - finished well back.
The party will also need to pick a new treasurer and minister for tourism and climate change, as well as promote someone to cabinet. The remaining backbenchers are in the lower house are John Tucker, Felix Ellis and Ms Alexander, and in the upper house are Jo Palmer and Nick Duigan.
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