A Liberal MP who has lavished praise on former prime minister Scott Morrison will not contest the next federal election.
Gavin Pearce, the member for Braddon in northwest Tasmania, will not stand for re-election in what could be a hit to the party's chances of retaining the seat.
Mr Pearce, who once said he would follow Mr Morrison to his "dying days", was first elected in 2019.
He increased his primary vote by more than six per cent at the 2022 poll, despite the Liberals suffering a swing against them across the country.
Tasmanian Liberal Party president Michael McKenna thanked Mr Pearce, who served in the army for two decades, for his contribution.
"Gavin's decision to not recontest the next election is understandable after sacrificing so much time with his young family in service of his community," he said on Tuesday.
"For a long time, Braddon was viewed by many to be an unwinnable Labor stronghold, yet Gavin's strong community connections, commitment and relatable nature changed all that."
The Liberals will continue their internal pre-selection processes for the seat, with nominations reopening.
Braddon has a history of being a swinging seat and was held by Labor's Justine Keay from 2016 to 2019 and Liberal Brett Whiteley from 2013 to 2016.
Mr Morrison announced in January he would quit parliament in February, sparking a by-election in his seat of Cook.
The next federal election must be held before September 27, 2025.
