Long-serving Tasmanian Liberal MP Rene Hidding has resigned from politics, labelling abuse allegations levelled against him as "false and malicious".

In a statement on Monday afternoon, Mr Hidding said the allegations were made in the context of a wider, long-term bitter dispute.

Mr Hidding said he had "for some time been aware" of an attempt to "seek leverage" in an ongoing "dispute".

"But I did not know what type of allegation would be made. Needless to say I am extremely upset by them and refute them strongly."

Mr Hidding said the individual concerned had never before raised the matter.

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman wrote to the state's Police Commissioner on Saturday to draw his attention to an article published in The Australian newspaper detailing a woman's allegations against an unnamed politician, who she said abused her as a teenager.

Tasmania Police confirmed they had made contact with a complainant following an allegation of historical sexual assault, and that two officers would travel to Queensland on Tuesday to take their statement.

Hidding says police yet to contact him over allegations

Mr Hidding said he intended to seek redress from the publishers of The Australian.

"I acknowledge that I have been a public figure, but that does not deny me the presumption of innocence and the right for an investigation to be undertaken in the proper way, under the rule of law," his statement read.

Mr Hidding said he had made the decision to retire from his political career immediately to afford his family the right to privacy and due process.

He has already been to Government House to resign.

"To deal with this matter appropriately, it is best that I do so as a private citizen rather than from inside the fishbowl of Tasmanian politics," Mr Hidding said.

"I am at retirement age in any event and in my last term.

"I am saddened that I now need to step aside so I can confront false, malicious and hurtful allegations."

Mr Hidding said he had never had any contact with Tasmania Police in relation to the allegations.

Rene Hidding Tasmanian Liberal Party ( Facebook: Rene Hidding )

Three Liberal members were elected for Lyons at last year's state election: Mr Hidding, Mark Shelton and Guy Barnett.

Jane Howlett, who also ran on the Liberal ticket, was subsequently elected to the Legislative Council, which means fellow candidate John Tucker is likely to win a recount.

It is not known if Mr Tucker will contest the recount.

However, it is understood a recount may not be able to occur until after State Parliament is due to return, because there must be a 10-day delay after newspaper advertisements are published.

Mr Hodgman said he would seek a pair from the Opposition if a recount could not occur before Parliament resumes on March 12.

"I would think in the circumstances it would be entirely appropriate to grant [a pair]," he said.

Labor said all requests for pairs were considered on merit and a request had not yet been received.

Hidding had not planned to contest next state election

Mr Hidding is currently the longest-serving member of Tasmania's House of Assembly — he entered politics as the member for Lyons in 1996.

He was Opposition Leader between 2002 and 2006, and then served as police minister and infrastructure minister in Will Hodgman's first-term government.

He was Mr Hodgman's pick for speaker after the 2018 election, but was outmanoeuvred by Sue Hickey, who took on the role with the support of Labor and the Greens.

Since then, Mr Hidding had served as a backbencher.

He had not planned to contest the next state election in 2022.

He has become the second MP to resign from the Hodgman Government in two weeks.

Former Tasmanian mining minister Adam Brooks also resigned from Parliament in early February. A recount for his Braddon seat has taken place, with former MP Joan Rylah elected as his replacement.