Abetz blames Colbeck campaign on low spots

Senior Liberal Eric Abetz is blaming a failed bid to save a minister who's lost his seat for the Liberals not obtaining five Senate seats in Tasmania.

The grassroots campaign was to save former tourism minister Richard Colbeck, who was relegated to the fifth spot on the Liberals' Senate ticket.

But in an email obtained by the ABC, Senator Abetz labels it a destabalising campaign that undermined the message of stability and cost the party five seats.