Promises are beginning to flow thick and fast as the federal election campaign reaches the halfway mark.
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Yes that’s right, there’s still four weeks to go.
But it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Paddocks, streets and even boats are splashed with red, green and blue signs.
Jobs and growth rhetoric is starting to wear, and television ads flood prime time.
The casual observer may note the blue signs outweigh the red signs around Launceston and the Midlands.
And if you haven’t noticed, casts of thousands from interstate have descended on Tasmania.
By my count, eight ministers have visited Tasmania since the election was called.
Half the outer ministry has also visited.
Labor’s shadow cabinet have racked up the frequent flyer miles too, with seven out of 20 of its opposition ministry visiting.
All come attached with minders and advisers, hoping to get maximum media coverage.
Media events are planned, and the minister or shadow minister plonk themselves next to the candidate in all sorts of places.
The early weeks of the campaign were full of visitors, but few announcements.
Labor has certainly been splashing the cash around, with the Liberals quick to remind voters the ALP can’t be trusted with money.
The big red Bill Bus arrived in Tasmania this week and was ready to spread the dollars around.
A $44 million tourism package was announced on Thursday by Labor, which includes $15 million for the Cradle Mountain development and $10 million to turn the HMAS Tobruk into a dive site.
The highly sought after Cradle Mountain money comes on top of $150 million promised for the relocation of the University of Tasmania in Launceston and Burnie.
A whopping $32 million has been promised for a Hobart Airport road upgrade, and funds for a pool in Circular Head and a footy ground in New Norfolk have also been pledged.
Between Cradle and UTAS, Labor has ticked off two of the big ticket items on the Tasmanian wishlist.
Liberal stalwart Eric Abetz described it as “throwing money around like confetti” and reckons Mr Shorten has spent $16 million per day in Tasmania since the start of the campaign.
The Libs appear to be saving up the promises for those crucial last few weeks.
Bass this week saw $2.6 million for roads, and a promise of some new mobile blackspot phone towers.
The projects may be helpful, but they certainly aren’t sexy or seat-winning election promises.
UTAS must be getting a bit anxious that the Liberals still haven’t made an annoucement on whether it will fund the relocation.
Bi-partisan support makes the project a reality.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will need to visit Tasmania again, and he will need to come back with more announcements than what he offered at his Josef Chromy appearance.
Saving promises for the last few weeks ensure they are fresh in the minds of voters.
And the Coalition will hope that voters forget Labor’s early promises.
About 25 per cent of Bass voters polled say they could change their mind before the election.
It’s those voters who the parties will be trying to win over with promises during the second half of the marathon campaign.
