Senator Abetz has been on leave for family reasons since May 25, leading to suggestions that Prime Minister Tony Abbott could be forced to reshuffle his ministerial deck just six months after the last reshuffle.

There have been suggestions Senator Abetz may not contest the next election, while there is also chatter in Liberal ranks about the futures of Treasurer Joe Hockey and Attorney-General George Brandis.

But the veteran senator, a spear carrier for the Liberal right who was a key mover in the events that saw Mr Abbott replace Malcolm Turnbull back in 2009, has told Tasmanian Liberals he has no plans to quit.

The Employment Minister marked 21 years in the Federal Parliament at a 400-person knees up at Hobart's Wrest Point casino last Friday.

That event was attended by Mr Abbott, former Prime Minister John Howard and Premier Will Hodgman, amongst other Liberal party luminaries.

In an email sent to Tasmanian Liberal Party members on Tuesday, Senator Abetz said he was "very mindful that without the gracious support of the Liberal Party membership and the people of Tasmania, together with my family, I would not have had the opportunity to serve as a senator, a shadow minister or as a minister in the Howard and Abbott governments".

Pointedly, he added: "I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Tasmania in the Parliament." Sources close to Senator Abetz said the comments were designed as a clear signal that he intended to recontest.

Senator Abetz is expected to resume normal duties soon after the current parliamentary sitting fortnight ends.

Last year, the Tasmanian senator declared "the prospect of retirement does not excite me in any way" and that he had no plans to quit politics.

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