After 16 years as second in command of the Tasmanian Liberals, Jeremy Rockliff has been officially confirmed as the state's next Premier.
He replaces Peter Gutwein, who resigned this week citing his desire to spend more time with his family.
Mr Rockliff's promotion has been formalised in a party room meeting on Friday morning.
The meeting also confirmed that Bass MP Michael Ferguson will step into the Deputy Premier role.
Mr Rockliff first arrived in Tasmania's parliament two decades ago, elected for the first time alongside his premiership predecessors Will Hodgman and Peter Gutwein in 2002.
At a press conference in Hobart following his endorsement, Mr Rockliff said he was "honoured and immensely excited to be elected today by my parliamentary colleagues to lead the Liberal party and become Tasmania's 47th premier".
"It is my plan to lead a government with integrity, a government that is courageous, accountable, delivers on its commitments, but above all I will lead a government with heart, that listens to Tasmanians' needs and ensures Tasmania's priorities continue to be our priorities.
"Mental health and wellbeing is important to me.
Mr Rockliff said he was "also deeply committed to delivering a pathway to treaty and truth telling in deep consultation and through an Aboriginal led process".
"My vision for Tasmania is simple. It is to be a place where everyone feels valued, included, encouraged and supported to be the best they can be," he said.
"Over the course of the weekend, I will be taking time to discuss with my colleagues roles and responsibilities, and I will have more to say on this next week."
Admirer of Rundle style
In his 2002 inaugural speech, Mr Rockliff praised the leadership style of former Liberal premier Tony Rundle, who held the office between 1996 and 1998.
"Tony Rundle's style of politics struck a chord with me," Mr Rockliff told the chamber at the time.
"Leadership is not simply managing what exists but facilitating change and looking ahead."
The 52-year-old grew up on his family's mixed crop and lamb production farm at Sassafras, which he later managed.
He has also been a Lifeline counsellor and was awarded a lifetime membership to the organisation in 2006, the same year he became deputy leader of the Liberal Party in what was then the state opposition.
Mr Rockliff has been deputy premier since the Liberal government was elected in 2014, serving as education minister throughout that time until last year, when he was made Health Minister.
He was the strongest vote-winner in the north-west electorate of Braddon at the 2021 state election, pulling close to two quotas to get over the line first.
He and his wife Sandra have three daughters together: Ruby, Lucy and Holly.
The partyroom meeting also confirmed that politically ambitious Michael Ferguson will play the supporting role in the leadership team.
The northern Bass MP pushed to become premier when Will Hodgman resigned in January 2020, but settled for the Deputy Premier role this time around.
Mr Ferguson drew significant criticism during his time as health minister between 2014 and 2019.
He recently made headlines after being accused of groaning in state parliament as Opposition leader Rebecca White quoted a child sexual abuse survivor.
It means southern-based Attorney-General Elise Archer has again missed out on the position, after confirming she wanted it earlier this week and also putting her hand up in 2020.
The Liberals remain without a woman in the leadership team — the way it has been for the past 20 years since Denise Swan was deputy opposition leader.
