The 37-year-old told her staff last night that she won't recontest the marginal seat at next year's federal election.

In an exclusive interview with Fairfax Media's Launceston Examiner newspaper, Ms Campbell has denied she'll be a "lame duck" MP, saying she wanted to be open with voters but not waste taxpayers' money by forcing a byelection if she walked away now.

The member for Bass, in the state's northeast, said she told Prime Minister Kevin Rudd about a month ago that she wanted to devote more time to her two daughters.

Ms Campbell is adamant that she was not pushed by the Labor Party hierachy after a series of personal life dramas, including an alleged assault by her former de facto Roland Small in August.

The former Launceston deputy mayor has no future career plans but has ruled out a return to politics.

Small, 36, is due to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court today to enter a plea to one charge of common assault against Ms Campbell.