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The 2016 federal election will be held on July 2.
Scroll down to follow our weekly updates.
Week 1 Wrap:
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called the election on Sunday May 8, and the battle lines have been drawn.
Liberal stalwart Eric Abetz wouldn’t be drawn on whether he’d like to be back in cabinet, after several Liberal candidates praised his abilities.
The issue of minority government popped up again, but both Labor and the Liberal have vowed not to get into bed with the Greens in the event of a hung parliament.
Labor made a $60 million education pledge, as part of the party’s Your Child, Our Future policy.
The state had visits from Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek, Labor higher education spokesman Kim Carr, Treasurer Scott Morrison, Arts Minister Mitch Fifield and Labor health spokeswoman Catherine King.
On Friday, the Liberals announced where the Cadbury money was to be spent.
The Labor Party national executive failed to give Senator Lisa Singh a lifeline.
Week 2 Wrap:
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s visit to Launceston on Friday was the biggest news item of a much more low-key week two.
Mr Turnbull came under fire for not announcing any Tasmanian funding initiatives, but espoused the benefits Free Trade Agreements would have for local producers.
The state also saw visits from Social Services Minister Christian Porter and Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dan Tehan.
Labor made some sporting infrastructure upgrade promises, with Braddon candidate Justine Keay pledging $3.5 million towards a new indoor heated Circular Head Pool and Lyons candidate Brian Mitchell promising an upgrade of New Norfolk’s Boyer Oval.
Week 3 Wrap:
Visitors galore! Environment Minister Greg Hunt dropped into the state to talk renewable energy, the Tamar River and the Tasmanian devil. Justice Minister Michael Keenan visited the North and North West to talk about Safer Streets funding.
Labor’s Penny Wong, Jenny Macklin and Joel Fitzgibbon also visited.
Week 4 Wrap:
Halfway there! More visitors, and more promises. The week started with a pledge from Bass MP Andrew Nikolic joined by Nationals Senator Fiona Nash for more mobile blackspot towers. Money for a forestry research centre was announced for Launceston. The Liberals also announced $2.6 million for roads funding in Bass.
The week also saw the arrival of the big red Bill Bus. Labor promised funds for an upgrade of a Midlands sports centre, and unveiled a $44 million tourism package.
The package included $15 million to revamp the Cradle Mountain visitor centre.
Week 5 Wrap:
A planned campaign visit by the Prime Minister was called off due to extensive flooding across Tasmania.
The Liberal Party announced it would hold off on campaigning for 48 hours as floods devastated the North and North-West.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten both visited flood affected areas on Thursday.
Mr Turnbull announced a package to assist flood victims.
Braddon Liberal MHR Brett Whiteley pledged on Saturday that the West Coast would receive a fibre to the node National Broadband Network connection, with Strahan to receive a wireless connection. The $18.5 million pledge meant the West Coast’s NBN connection will be upgraded regardless of who wins the election.
Week 6 Wrap:
Bass MHR Andrew Nikolic was in the headlines when he withdrew from the Bass Candidates’ Debate, hosted by The Examiner and the Launceston Chamber of Commerce, on the grounds he would only take part in a one-on-one debate with Labor candidate Ross Hart.
He took part in the debate on Thursday after Greens candidate Terrill Riley-Gibson withdrew, so “Andrew Nikolic has no excuses anymore for dodging scrutiny”.
Palmer United Party founder Clive Palmer toured the state on Wednesday, and declared Tasmania should be made a tax-free zone.
Labor declared it would spend $3 million to convert health administration building Allambi into a 10-bed hospice, but met opposition from the state government, who said Allambi was not available to become such a facility.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten visited Hobart on Friday, where he unveiled his plan for Tasmania and pledged $5 million for a feasibility study into a second Basslink cable.
Week 7 Wrap:
The state had some high profile visitors, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek and Greens Leader Richard Di Natale all stopping by.
Labor promised a $75 million sewerage solution, while Mr Turnbull ensured the University of Tasmania’s Northern Cities project would go ahead, committing $150 million.
Tourism Minister Richard Colbeck attracted the ire of the state’s tourism lobby when he said the Cradle Mountain Master Plan wasn’t “investment ready”, devoting $1 million for a feasibility study into the project.
Week 8 Wrap:
The constant flow of visitors slowed as local candidates ramped up their ad spending and focused on grass-roots campaigning.
Labor pledged $1.7 million towards the North-East rail trail, while a national Royal Flying Doctors announcement was held in Launceston following constant lobbying by Bass MHR Andrew Nikolic.
Liberal MHR Eric Hutchinson also pledged $800,000 for the Missiondale Recovery Centre to continue its work for another year.
Independent Denison MHR Andrew Wilkie talked up the benefits of power sharing, which drew the ire of Mr Nikolic, who labelled it “chaotic, costly and unstable”.
The Liberals went after Senator Jacqui Lambie’s preferences and voting record in a last minute bid to prevent votes going to minor parties.
THE PROMISES (over $1 million)
THE COALITION:
Bass:
Launceston City Heart Project - $7.5 million
George Town Roads - $5.95 million
Legana Town Centre Boulevard - $2.8 million
Bass specific National Institute for Forest Products Innovation funding - $2 million
Bridport secondary access road - $1.97 million
Tamar River Recovery Plan part two - $1.5 million
Windsor Park sports oval - $1 million
Total roads funding - $11.515 million
Braddon:
West Coast NBN upgrade - $18.5 million
Circular Head Pool - $3.6 million
Dial Range Sporting Complex - $3.5 million
Devonport Golf Club - $3.5 million
Murchison Highway upgrade - $3.5 million
Wynyard Bass Highway upgrades - $2.13 million
Total roads funding - $6.81 million
Lyons:
Highlands Lakes Road - $5 million
Blue Tiers Mountain Bike Trails stage two - $1.6 million
Oatlands Aquatic Centre - $1.5 million
Carlton River Bridge - $1.2 million
Road blackspots - $1.12 million
Exeter Community Precinct - $1 million
Total bridge funding - $2.353 million
Total road funding - $5.75 million
Statewide:
University of Tasmania Northern Cities expansion - $150 million
Tasmania Jobs Package - $25 million
Local drug and alcohol rehabilitation services - $5.69 million
$5 million tourism package
PCYC funding - $1 million
Support for second Basslink cable, pending business case
LABOR:
Bass:
Launceston sewerage upgrade - $75 million
Bass specific schools funding - $14 million
Launceston Hospice - $3 million
Matching the Coalition's black spot funding, plus Round Hill
Total road funding - none
Braddon:
Fibre to the Premises NBN connection for the West Coast - about $29 million - funded from NBN's budget
Braddon specific schools funding - $21 million
North-West Coastal Pathway - $3.7 million
Circular Head Pool - $3.5 million
Wynyard foreshore transformation - $2.88 million
Matching the Coalition's black spot funding, plus Riverside
Total road funding - $1 million
Lyons:
Lyons specific schools funding - $9 million
Boyer Oval upgrade - $2 million
Kentish Trail Masterplan - $1.5 million
Carlton River Bridge - $1.2 million
Matching the Coalition's black spot funding, plus Dunalley
Total road funding - none, but majority of $100 million Midland Highway funding will benefit Lyons
Total bridge funding - $1.2 million
Statewide:
University of Tasmania Northern Cities expansion - $150 million
Additional hospital funding - about $102 million
Midland Highway upgrade - $100 million
Tourism Infrastructure package - $44 million - including $15 million for Cradle Mountain Master Plan, $10 million to scuttle HMAS Tobruk at Skeleton Bay and $1.275 million for the Burnie Waterfront
Basslink feasibility study - $5 million and up to $500 million if business case for second cable stacks up
Tasmania specific palliative care funding - $2.3 million
THE CANDIDATES
House of Representatives
Bass
Liberal – Andrew Nikolic
Labor – Ross Hart
Greens – Terrill Riley-Gibson
Renewable Energy Party – Roy Ramage
Christian Democratic Party – Malcolm Beattie
Australian Recreational Fishers Party – Mark Tapsell
Lyons
Liberal – Eric Hutchinson
Labor – Brian Mitchell
Greens – Hannah Rubenach
Australian Recreational Fishers Party – Shelley Shay
Renewable Energy Party – Duncan Livingston
Christian Democratic Party – Gene Mawer
Braddon
Liberal – Brett Whiteley
Labor – Justine Keay
Greens – Scott Jordan
Australian Recreational Fishers Party – Glen Saltmarsh
Christian Democratic Party – Graham Hodge
Renewable Energy Party – Clinton Rice
Liberal Democrats – Joshua Boag
Franklin
Liberal – Amanda Sue-Markham
Labor – Julie Collins
Greens – Martine Delaney
The Arts Party – Tim Sanderson
Christian Democratic Party – George Muskett
Denison
Liberal – Marcus Allan
Labor – Jane Austin
Independent – Andrew Wilkie
Greens – Jen Brown
Democratic Labour Party – Wayne Williams
Christian Democratic Party – Amanda Excell
View the Senate candidates here