Pollsters are tipping that Bass will be a seat to watch in next month's federal election.
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The prediction is hardly surprising given the revolving door of sitting members since Labor's Michelle O'Byrne last held the second over two terms until the 2004 election. Since then, the seat has swung between the major two parties.
Labor incumbent Ross Hart holds a 5.4 per cent margin after an electoral distribution during the last term of government which meant he lost almost half of his swing he gained in 2016 against the Liberals.
Mr Hart, a lawyer better known for constituency work, has ramped up his media appearances towards the second half of his term.
His main opponent, Bridget Archer for the Liberals enjoys a high-profile as George Town mayor; a position she retained in last year's local government election.
Her profile was also bolstered in last year's March state election. Internal Liberal polling in early April has suggested Ms Archer might just beat Mr Hart on a two-party preferred basis.
A subsequent poll commissioned by the Australian Forest Products Association showed a greater lead by Ms Archer of 56 per cent of the vote against Mr Hart's 46 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
In 2016, the Liberals polled well in Bridport, Flinders Island, Legana, Ringarooma, Scottsdale, Weymouth, and Winnaleah. Labor gained more votes in most Launceston suburbs and in some cases doubled first-preference votes for the Liberals.
Launceston accounts for more than 60 per cent of the electorate's voting base.
The electorate is notorious for receiving a cash splash from both major parties due to the volatility of the seat.
The campaign started with several announcements to fund specific council projects which is destined to continue. Both parties will target roads and bridges funding as well.
The big-ticket item in the last federal election campaign was the Launceston City Deal and the relocation of Newnham's University of Tasmania campus to Inveresk.
The new government will be required to see out the final part of the $150 million federal investment which has been sold to make Launceston a knowledge-based city and bring more after-hours activity to its hospitality industry and retailers.
The North-East has previously been targeted through forestry policies and pledges but the industry's downturn led to a population decline and less direct attention paid towards the sector at a federal level.
While there has been growth in recreation tourism activity, such as the Blue Derby mountain bike trail, it may not have been the economic saviour of the region as anticipated.
Forestry still persists as a profitable industry in the state's North, supported by TimberLink and Forico, but it has not been to the same economic scale as it was in past years.
Northern Tasmania Development Corporation chief executive Maree Tetlow said Bass had a diverse economy, which had been reliant on larger minerals and commodity processing industries, so had a skills base in engineering and manufacturing which could attract new industry sectors and businesses.
She said export-related industries were expected to grow significantly in Northern Tasmania across the electorates of Bass and Lyons with agriculture to be the stand-out industry.
Other valuable industries included tourism, professional, scientific and technical services, and education services. "We can see that health-related jobs will continue to grow as our population ages," Ms Tetlow said.
She said it was assumed that the region would need to attract 10,000 more skilled people to counteract retiring residents and the growing economy.