Tasmania's wobbly minority Liberal government has a new deputy premier and faces a cabinet reshuffle just seven months after a state election.
The state's Liberals copped a blow on Monday when Michael Ferguson stood down as deputy leader and treasurer in the face of a looming no-confidence vote in parliament.
He had been under increasing political pressure for his oversight of delays and cost blowouts to the delivery of new $900 million Spirit of Tasmania ferries.
Labor, the Greens and several members of the crossbench planned to support a no-confidence motion - the Liberals didn't have the numbers to defeat it.
Former senator Guy Barnett, 62, who has served at state level for a decade, was appointed deputy premier on Tuesday.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff indicated he would name a new treasurer before Friday as part of a cabinet reshuffle.
He said he had a "capable and experienced" team to draw from, despite the Liberals holding just 14 of 35 lower-house seats.
"I look forward to consulting with my colleagues on new positions within cabinet," he told parliament.
Tasmania's parliament increased from 25 to 35 MPs at the most recent March poll, partly to share the ministerial workload.
Mr Barnett is already the attorney-general and holds the justice, health and veterans' affairs portfolios.
It has been a rocky few years for the Liberals, who were plunged into minority in May 2023 when two MPs quit the party to sit as independents.
They called an early election but couldn't get the numbers for majority and ended up with a bigger crossbench.
The Liberals had to redraw deals with two crossbench MPs in August after they were punted from the Jacqui Lambie Network and became independents.
Labor leader Dean Winter, who had pledged to bring forward the confidence motion, has called for greater government action to get the Spirit of Tasmania project on track.
Labor wants laws to make government-owned ferry operator TT-Line and TasPorts, who have blamed each other for Spirit issues, work in the best interests of the state.
"The premier could not commit to the new Spirits both being in service, at full capacity by the summer of 2026," Mr Winter said.
The first of two Spirits is expected to be in service in 2025 but won't be able to operate at full capacity until berth upgrades are finished at a date to be advised.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff hoped Mr Ferguson's resignation signalled a new era for Tasmanian politics.
Mr Ferguson was accused of misleading parliament, something he denied, about when he knew about the ferry delays and cost overruns.
"There is a majority will to have ministerial standards much higher than they have been under the Liberals over the last decade," Dr Woodruff said.
Mr Ferguson will remain in parliament and sit on the backbench.
