The leader of Tasmania's minority Liberal government has confirmed there was more to his decision to ask for the resignation of one of his senior ministers.
Elise Archer resigned as attorney-general on Friday afternoon and took a swipe at the party leadership for failing to support ambitious women on her way out.
On Sunday, she told the ABC she was reconsidering her decision to resign from parliament and could instead sit as an independent.
"I've received an outpouring of support from the community, so I am taking some time to reconsider," she told the ABC.
"(I would be) no longer part of the government.
"They have themselves to blame."
AAP has contacted Ms Archer for comment.
Ms Archer's departure came as the government grapples with the public release of a report into child sexual abuse that found grave failures in state institutions across decades.
It was revealed on Thursday that Ms Archer, elected to parliament in 2010, was being investigated for bullying allegations made against her by staff from her office.
The Australian newspaper published alleged text messages from Ms Archer in which she labelled Premier Jeremy Rockliff "gutless" and his predecessor Peter Gutwein as having a "glass jaw".
However, Mr Rockliff said on Friday that in making his decision he had become aware of comments made by Ms Archer outside of "what had already been reported".
On Sunday, he confirmed he was made aware of information relating to remarks she made about victim-survivors of abuse on Thursday, and asked for her resignation on Friday after he "sighted those remarks".
"I wish to be clear - I took the decision not to disclose the nature of Ms Archer's remarks on Friday due to the harm that they would cause victim survivors, particularly following the handing down of the Commission of Inquiry," he said in a statement.
Mr Rockliff was referring to reported remarks Ms Archer has said were taken out of context.
The Mercury newspaper reported on Saturday Ms Archer said in a WhatsApp chat, "Turn off comments please. Sick of victim survivors".
Ms Archer later told the ABC it was an expression of frustration at abuse directed at her online and was a message to staff overseeing a social media post.
"It was meant as 'I am sick of them attacking me'," she said.
The premier said the messages were not released to the media by his office.
Ms Archer's departure leaves the only Liberal government in Australia with 10 of 25 lower house seats in Tasmania.
The government has been in minority since May, when two MPs quit the crossbench citing concerns with Tasmania's deal for an AFL team and stadium.
Mr Rockliff has not ruled out delaying the return of parliament, scheduled to next sit on October 17, to ensure a recount could be held to determine Ms Archer's replacement.
The government has survived no-confidence motions in parliament in recent months but is at greater risk of losing a vote if it faces parliament with just 10 members.
Ms Archer's replacement in the Hobart-based seat of Clark is expected to be a Liberal.
Several Liberal MPs, including Mr Gutwein, have quit since the party's re-election in 2021.
Ms Archer was the state's first female Speaker and became attorney-general in 2018.
Deputy Premier Michael Ferguson is acting attorney-general, with Ms Archer's portfolios to be assigned in the coming days.
Mr Rockliff shuffled his ministry in July after dropping the health portfolio as part of a "reset".
