Stay positive vow as Libs get a serve

LABOR has ruled out a negative, personality-based state election campaign similar to the one run by the Liberal Party against independent Pembroke candidate Doug Chipman.

And Premier Will Hodgman said the Liberal Party would campaign positively, but did not rule out using negative tactics.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White said Tasmanians did not like “gutter politics” or personal attacks, “and neither do I”.

“Labor is committed to campaigning on the issues that are important to Tasmanians — issues such as fixing the health crisis, tackling unemployment and underemployment with secure, rewarding, full-time jobs and giving our kids the best education and start in life,” Ms White said.

“We will hold the Government to account for its policy failures.”

Mr Hodgman said the Government would highlight the Government’s achievements in its campaign.

“We will be running a positive campaign based on our strong record and our plans to build Tasmania’s future, with a major advertising campaign starting this weekend highlighting our positive plan,” Mr Hodgman said.

The comments come after a leaked letter obtained by the Mercury revealed internal divi- sions in the Liberal Party over the Pembroke by-election campaign, particularly over the decision to target independent candidate Doug Chipman’s age.

According to the letter, Lower Sandy Bay branch members hold “deep concerns” about the upcoming state election and the calibre of the campaign, and say their confidence in the party’s state director Sam McQuestin has been “shattered”.

Former Liberal premier Robin Gray yesterday told the ABC he believed Mr McQuest- in should not be charged with running the state election campaign, and the state director had made a “serious error” in targeting Mr Chipman’s age.

Mr Gray said powerful Tasmanian Liberal senator Eric Abetz was “out of touch” and should step aside.

“Eric has been a serious problem for the Liberal Party I think for some years now. It’s time he stepped aside, it’s time he went,” Mr Gray said.

“I think the Liberal Party needs to take a very serious look at itself in Tasmania.

“I think they’ve got to do something to give the party a new image.”

Senator Abetz said Mr Gray’s character assessment was nothing new and “just the latest in 30 years of spewing bile”.

“I remain absolutely focused on advancing Tasmania’s interests and standing up for Liberal values,” Senator Abetz said.

“I just hope, for his own sake, he finds some other hobby to keep him occupied rather than sadly reprosecuting his 30-year-old animosity toward me.”