Former Victorian Government minister Philip Dalidakis has made the shock decision to quit Parliament and take up a senior position with Australia Post.

Key points: Mr Dalidakis represented the Southern Metropolitan region in the Upper House

Mr Dalidakis represented the Southern Metropolitan region in the Upper House He has served as minister for small business, trade, investment, innovation and the digital economy

He has served as minister for small business, trade, investment, innovation and the digital economy He said he had more time with his family and the community to reflect on his priorities since leaving cabinet

Mr Dalidakis, who was the trade minister in the last parliament, formally resigned at lunchtime today.

Australia Post has confirmed Mr Dalidakis has been appointed the executive general manager of corporate services.

Mr Dalidakis lost his cabinet spot after the election amid factional pressures and a push for equality on the frontbench.

"Since stepping down from the ministry six months ago, I have had more time with my family, more time in my community and more time to reflect on my priorities and what I want to achieve and what I want to do," he said in a Facebook post.

His decision to quit immediately takes a vote away from the Andrews Government in the Upper House in the final week of Parliament before the winter break, ahead of what is expected to be a close vote on reforms to the state's fire services.

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Resignation clouds future of fire law

The Government is hoping the Upper House will this week pass the fire service reforms, which will require the support of some members of the crossbench.

It is the same legislation that the Coalition defeated last year when it controversially reneged on a pairing deal, where a member of one party agrees to abstain from a vote when a member from the opposing party cannot attend.

Complicating matters is the fact Labor MP Mark Gepp has missed the past two weeks due to illness.

Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said the Government would not be given pairs this time around.

"I've made it very clear that the Premier shouldn't bother asking me for a pair on the CFA bill because all of our members want to turn up," he said.

"They want to vote to stop these attacks on the CFA."

The Government has the support of the Greens and Reason Party for the bill.

It is also hoping to secure the vote of the Animal Justice Party's Andy Meddick, which would give the bill majority support if Mr Gepp is well enough to attend and vote.

If passed, the legislation would change the CFA into a volunteer-only organisation.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) would be scrapped and replaced by Fire Rescue Victoria, which would cover paid firefighters in built-up urban areas across the state, not just in Melbourne, replacing the CFA paid staff in regional centres.

Mr Dalidakis left the ministry about six months ago. ( ABC News: James Hancock, file photo )

Meanwhile, Mr Dalidakis appears set for a huge pay rise.

Australia Post's 2018 annual report showed the previous executive manager of corporate services, Christopher Blake, was paid $1.5 million last year.

Mr Andrews wished Mr Dalidakis well.

"I want to thank him for his service, particularly during his time as Minister for Small Business, Trade and Investment and the Digital Economy and most recently as chair of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee," the Premier said.