Tasmania's Education Minister has quit politics after returning from a European holiday during which she caught COVID-19.
Sarah Courtney said she had reflected on her career and felt it was the right time to move on for herself and her family.
The Liberal MP was criticised by Labor and the Greens for holidaying in Europe for several weeks while stressed parents were preparing to send their children back to school.
She was forced to isolate in France just days out from school resuming.
Ms Courtney knocked back criticism of the timing of her holiday, saying only that she regretted catching coronavirus, and said her resignation was "the culmination and confluence of a range of different factors".
"Having the opportunity to spend meaningful time with the people I love is very dear to my heart," Ms Courtney said.
Her decision comes on day two of the school term for public students grappling with the reality of COVID in the community.
The government says it has a pool of 1,700 relief teachers on hand to help with sicknesses but some of them have said they are not returning due to COVID concerns.
Marriage to her former department boss
Ms Courtney thanked her "amazing husband" John Whittington, who she met when he was secretary of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks and Water and she was his responsible minister.
The couple's relationship was revealed by former premier Will Hodgman in state parliament in 2018, then investigated in an independent review which cleared the pair of any wrongdoing.
The pair married in 2020 and Dr Whittington moved into a new role with Blue Economy CRC-Co Ltd.
Ms Courtney said she expected she would stay in Tasmania, and that she did not yet know where she would next work.
Ms Courtney was elected to the state parliament in 2014.
She is a trained engineer and owns a boutique vineyard in the Tamar Valley.
She held the health portfolio until May last year, and listed guiding voluntary assisted dying through the parliament as a key achievement.
Premier Peter Gutwein paid tribute to Ms Courtney as a "fantastic" member of parliament.
"She will be missed. She has been instrumental in some legislative changes," he said.
"People should never forget the enormous weight she carried as Health Minister during the pandemic … Sarah and I forged a great friendship through that."
Who will replace her?
Ms Courtney's resignation will trigger another Cabinet reshuffle.
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff had the education portfolio in her absence, but is unlikely to have both roles long term.
Mr Gutwein would not be drawn on who would take on Ms Courtney's ministries.
Her resignation will also trigger a recount.
Poll analyst Kevin Bonham has written on social media that Ms Courtney's seat may go to St Vincent de Paul chief executive Lara Alexander, who ran for the Liberals in the 2021 state election but sensationally complained through her campaign manager she was not able to speak to the media.
Ms Courtney is the seventh Liberal to resign since the party took government in 2014, joining Matt Groom, Adam Brooks, Paul Harriss, Will Hodgman, Joan Rylah and Rene Hidding.
'Poor legacy'
In a statement, Australian Education Union Tasmania president David Genford said his organisation "wishes [her] well" and "respects anyone's right to prioritise their family life".
However, he added Ms Courtney "leaves behind a poor legacy in education and the AEU holds concerns that Tasmanian educators and students will miss out because of delays caused by a change in minister".
"A legacy of this minister will be 900 Tasmanians kicked out of their public service positions at TasTAFE on June 30 this year.
"Tasmania has a serious shortage of teachers, school psychologists, speech pathologists, social workers, teacher assistants and support staff — this must be an immediate priority of the incoming education minister and government for the upcoming budget."
