Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman insists his re-elected government hasn't lost its grip on power, even though it will rely on a Speaker who broke party ranks to pass legislation.
First-term Liberal MP Sue Hickey presided over the first question time of the year on Wednesday, a day after blindsiding her colleagues by voting with the opposition Labor and Greens parties to take the speakership.
The government had earmarked the role for party stalwart Rene Hidding.
But Ms Hickey won a Labor nomination for Speaker on a dramatic opening day of the new parliament on Tuesday.
Ms Hickey has said she will no longer attend Liberal party meetings and will vote on each government bill on its merits, however she has guaranteed her support for supply bills.
On her way to parliament on Wednesday, the former Hobart Lord Mayor told reporters she would "mostly" vote with the government.
"This is a very serious role and I take it very seriously," Ms Hickey said
"I am not going to abuse that power."
Labor leader Rebecca White, who nominated Ms Hickey for the position with support from the Greens, told parliament there was no collusion.
"There was always the inherent risk that Sue would not accept the nomination," Ms White said.
"However, I certainly saw the opportunity there and I'm pleased that she did."
The Liberal government was returned to power in March with a slender one-seat majority of 13 House of Assembly seats to Labor's 10 and the Greens' two.
Ms Hickey's "independent" vote could be crucial to pass legislation.
Mr Hodgman affirmed that Ms Hickey was still a member of the Liberal party.
"I have a commitment most importantly from Sue Hickey that she won't block supply," he said.
"Not only does that mean the passing of the budget it also means all the commitments we took to the election."
Ms Hickey presided over a fiery question time as the Liberals fielded a sustained Labor attack over the state's affordable housing crisis.
"I can do this all day. Stand up and down like a yo-yo and get a lot of exercise doing it," Ms Hickey said while calling for "order and discipline" from the house.
Greens leader Cassy O'Connor brought an unsuccessful no-confidence motion against the government, accusing them of buying their way into power on a campaign bankrolled by the gaming lobby.
Mr Hodgman labelled the move "delusional".
"The most offensive thing to say to Tasmanians is that they don't have the intellectual capacity to form a choice," he told parliament.
Labor and the Greens wanted poker machines to be phased out from pubs and clubs, while the Liberals have promised to keep them in those venues until at least 2043.
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