appointed Minister for Health and Minister for Information Technology and Innovation. As Health Minister, Ferguson has led an ambitious and somewhat contentious reform of the Tasmanian health system by merging the previously three health services into one and changing the services delivered at each of the four hospitals in the state. He has also taken charge of the redevelopment of the Royal Hobart Hospital to ensure that the much-promised building eventuates. His tenure has not been without incident with his appointment of an interim CEO of the merged health service having a side interest in alternative therapies and a series of electrical and computer failures at the ambulance service. In January 2020, Premier Will Hodgman resigned and Ferguson was a candidate to succeed him as Premier and Liberal leader but ultimately withdrew from the leadership contest. Treasurer Peter Gutwein was instead elected unopposed as Hodgman's successor. There was speculation that Ferguson would succeed Gutwein as Treasurer but in the end Premier Gutwein chose to retain the Treasury portfolio. On 8 April 2022, after Gutwein resigned as Premier, deputy party leader Jeremy Rockliff became party leader, and Ferguson was elected as deputy party premier to replace Rockliff. Ferguson was sworn in as Deputy Premier of Tasmania that afternoon. Political views References External links Michael Ferguson – official site Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust 1974 births Living people Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Tasmania Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Bass Members of the Australian House of Representatives Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly Deputy Premiers of Tasmania Treasurers of Tasmania 21st-century Australian politicians People from Burnie, Tasmania