Wilkie hits out over Labor ads

The advertisements say ``If Andrew Wilkie wins Dension, Tony Abbott is one seat closer to becoming Prime Minister,'' and ``Vote Wilkie - Get Abbott'' and began appearing on billboards, leaflets and newspaper advertisements in Dension last month.

Mr Wilkie said the ads suggested he had made a deal to support the Liberal Party.

``That's blatantly misleading and defamatory because I have made it very clear that I will not do any deal with any party after the election to help them form government,'' he said.

``So that every time the Tasmanian ALP say that a vote for Wilkie is a vote for Abbott, they are effectively calling me a liar.''

Mr Wilkie said he would also not make a preference deal with any party or candidate.

He said he had not spoken to Tasmanian ALP state secretary John Dowling about the ads before writing to Mr Rudd this morning.

``He is the person who has to take responsibility for what the Labor Party is doing nationally and in Tasmania,'' he said.

Mr Wilkie said the advertisements were ``mud-slinging politics'' and called on Mr Rudd to uphold his promise to clean up the standard of political discourse.

``I think Kevin is likely to be quite disappointed to learn of the sort of behaviour of his Tasmanian franchise,'' he said.

Tasmanian Labor Senator Lin Thorp said the advertisement was not intended to suggest a deal between Mr Wilkie and Mr Abbott.

``Labor is after majority government, so that any seat we fail to win either to the Liberals or to an independent makes that task that much harder,'' Ms Thorp said.

``Because of the vagaries of the election system Mr Wilkie got elected last time, we're determined that (Labor Denison candidate) Jane Austin will be elected this time.''

Mr Dowling was unable to be contacted for comment but is expected to address the media later today.