TASMANIA will have an elder abuse strategy no matter who wins government on March 20.
Premier David Bartlett last night flagged he would release the Labor Party's long-awaited elderly abuse prevention strategy within the next two days.
The Opposition and Greens have already pledged to implement a strategy to prevent physical, mental and financial abuse of Tasmania's most vulnerable community members - which advocacy groups have spent a decade lobbying for.
All three of the state's political leaders last night reeled off long lists of how they plan to lighten the load on pensioners' hip pockets and ensure they stay connected to the community.
Greens leader Nick McKim pledged to work with the Federal Government to ensure aged care funding would allow Tasmanians to move into aged care facilities in their own communities.
"So many older Tasmanians, when they have to enter into aged care facilities, don't want to leave their communities and understandably so," Mr McKim said.
Mr Bartlett said the roll- out of fibre optic would allow the Government to offer better services in homes for elderly people, allowing them to live in their homes for as long as possible.
Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said the Liberal Party's plans to abolish land tax, cap water and sewerage bills, and provide more to grandparents caring for grandchildren would ease the burden on Tasmania's elderly.