Former Hobart lord mayor and disaffected Liberal Sue Hickey's "act of betrayal" in snatching the role of Speaker from her anointed colleague in a momentous first day in Parliament will be seen as a "dog act", a political analyst says.

The Tuesday coup, in which Ms Hickey gazumped the candidate the Liberal Party was preparing to usher in to the role, former minister Rene Hidding, was orchestrated by Labor leader Rebecca White and assisted by Greens leader Cassy O'Connor and left Government members including Premier Will Hodgman, visibly stunned.

The Government holds 13 seats, including Ms Hickey, with Labor on 10 seats and the Greens two.

Kate Crowley, associate professor of politics and policy at University of Tasmania, said Mr Hodgman "clearly underestimated" Ms Hickey, who said while she would stand with the Government on matters of supply, she would vote on all other bills on their "merits".

"It is a disloyal move. It's a move in her interest, which now makes the Government seem more tentative than it seemed yesterday," Professor Crowley told ABC Hobart.

Ms Hickey admitted after Tuesday's developments a "few people were a bit grumpy", which Professor Crowley said was entirely expected.

"Honestly, this is a bit of a dog act from a member of a party against her leader."

Premier Will Hodgman and then lord mayor Sue Hickey in happier times in 2016. ( Supplied: Taste of Tasmania )

"You wouldn't expect it, so I think people's reaction to that is completely justified.

"But I think she's probably seeing the greater good which is her perceived ability, self-perceived ability, to run the house, and she probably thinks she's going to do a good job."

Professor Crowley said, despite the shock which resonated through political watching circles, things "would settle down".

"The markets and the business community do seem to get the jitters when they feel like government's not assured, but I think things are going to settle down and the reason why is because it's in Sue Hickey's interest for things to settle down.

"She won't be voting the Government out of office because she would want to enjoy her time in the sun."

Sue Hickey is led into the chamber by Greens leader Cassy O'Connor and Labor's Rebecca White, as Premier Will Hodgman looks on. ( ABC News: Scott Ross )

Hickey's first Question Time as Speaker

Today will be the 49th Parliament's first Question Time, with Ms Hickey in the Speaker's Chair, overseeing proceedings.

As mayor, Sue Hickey was not averse to public run-ins with aldermen. ( ABC News: Ros Lehman )

Professor Crowley said it was a job suited to the 60-year-old former mayor, who she said had dealt with "difficult colleagues".

"She has a commanding personality and with the Hobart City Council she's shown she can work with very difficult colleagues and she can also build coalitions.

"She's also prepared to change her position and got on very well with the Greens," Professor Crowley said.

As to who masterminded the plot, Professor Crowley said Labor might have advice from former Labor MP Michael Polley, who in 1992 organised a coup to elevate Liberal MP Graeme Page to the Speaker's role, outflanking Michael Hodgman — father of current premier Will Hodgman.

"There is a clip of Sue Hickey outside Parliament saying she didn't know about this … obviously Labor had it nicely planned out, possibly with the advice of long-term speaker Michael Polley, because he's done this previously.

"I don't know that Sue was in on it, I don't know the Greens were in on it, but when it came to the vote they just snapped into line.

"Whether they were in on it or not, who knows."