His departure from politics is a real loss for the the ACT; he's been one of the Canberra Liberals' best political performers in his 12 years in the job. Coe was at his best when he got a whiff of something a little off, and wouldn't stop pursuing it.

Notably, he helped expose questionable land deals made by the Land Development Agency, and is one of the few MLAs who is across his brief enough to grill bureaucrats and politicians effectively at estimates hearings.

The opposition needs well informed members with forensic attention to detail to keep the government accountable.

But his departure may allow the Canberra Liberals to shed their toxic perception as one of the most conservative branches of the Liberal Party in the country.

After moderate Elizabeth Lee took over from him as leader, had he remained in the Assembly, the question of whether he was waiting in the background, ready to pounce, could have lingered. He could also have been seen to be pulling the strings for the conservative branch of the party behind the scenes.

The continued focus by Labor on Coe's social conservatism was perhaps unfair, but politically savvy. Perception can be everything in politics and the Liberals have done themselves no favours by allowing the right of the party to control it in a decidedly progressive town like Canberra.

Coe's conservatism was of course not the only reason the party further cemented itself in opposition at the October election.

As opposition leader, he was never really able to capture the hearts and minds of Canberrans. It is regrettable he allowed the Liberals to lead such a poor election campaign, which at times descended into farce. The usually sensible Coe decided, or was convinced, to take part in stunt after stunt, unashamedly taken from the playbook of Boris Johnson.

The same Alistair Coe who spent four years railing Labor for its lack of transparency showed a concerning lack of it himself, failing to answer basic questions in the lead-up to the election. The party forgot its audience, or failed hopelessly to understand it. But there is no doubt Coe was a highly dedicated local member who showed kindness and empathy to many.

Politics is a tough game and Coe gave it his all, and the bruising election defeat clearly took its toll on him. But perhaps he's also realised, as someone who entered the Assembly at 24, more life experience outside the bubble of territory politics can only do his future aspirations good.