The Bass candidates debate gave undecided voters a clearer picture of which party and candidate better represents their views.
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While a good deal of partisans populated the auditorium on Wednesday night, a number of swinging voters were also in attendance.
Rachel Thiele, of Launceston, said she'd come in to the debate undecided about who she'd vote for on May 18. But she said she left knowing she'd vote for Ross Hart.
Ms Thiele, a youth support worker, said the issues that were most important to her heading into this election were education, housing and homelessness.
"Just having a job is not going to fix everything," she said. "I think Ross gets that."
Watch the full debate below:
"Maybe Bridget does get it but she didn't bring it across.
"There are so many barriers way before just getting a job."
Logan Krushka, also of Launceston, said he remained undecided on who he'd vote for even after the debate. He did say, however, that he now had "a better perspective of the candidates and their stances on things".
Mr Krushka said rural healthcare was among the key issues for him in the lead-up to polling day.
"A lot of elderly people [are] moving out to smaller towns and not having acceptable healthcare standards," he said.
Brodwyn Blyth came to the debate as an undecided voter, and said she was impressed with Ms Archer's depth of knowledge on the issues.
"It must be very hard when you're not a sitting member to have all the facts and figures at hand and all the knowledge," she said.
"I do think they both spoke well, I probably would say Bridget articulated better."
Here's a breakdown of where each candidate stood on a range of policy areas:
Health and hospitals
Differences emerged in the two candidate's approach to the question of funding for the public health system, and Tasmania's overwhelmed hospitals.
Ms Archer said it was clear there were "challenges" within the health system, but governments needed work together collaboratively to look at a broad range of solutions instead of just increasing funding.
"Are we going to solve those challenges by just throwing more money at it and hoping that some of it sticks to the right thing, no," she said.
"I think it's unreasonable to say, and Labor has been very loud to say, that they are going to fix the health crisis.
"And yet there's no evidence to support what they're saying, no evidence to support that what they are proposing to spend is going to have that effect."
Mr Hart said bed block needed to be addressed at the Launceston General Hospital, which needed to stem from talking to clinicians and making pledges for beds in a sub-acute ward.
"This is not something that has just been plucked out of the air," he said.
Mr Hart said the Abbott government recanted on a 50 per cent funding agreement to the state, dropping it to 45 per cent, which was why Labor was saying there had been a cut to health funding.
Hospice plans
Labor committed to a palliative care hospice in Northern Tasmania on Wednesday, after Mr Hart's position was criticised by Friends of Northern Hospice.
Having supported the hospice prior to the 2016 election, he had not renewed his commitment in the current election campaign - until the funding promise on Wednesday. Mr Hart said this did not represent a "backflip" as Labor were not in government.
The commitment would be part of the party's $35 million promise for 32 sub-acute beds, announced several weeks ago.
Asked if the Liberal Party would match the promise, Ms Archer said the party was having "ongoing conversations" with all stakeholders.
She questioned whether Labor had engaged with all stakeholders before making the commitment.
"How are you funding that? How are you proposing to pay for that? Have you talked to the stakeholders including the state government about how you're resourcing that into the future?" Ms Archer said.
Tamar River health
The health of the Tamar River was the number one priority for readers of The Examiner, even after the federal and state governments committed $100 million for a range of measures.
Questions remained about the impact of Launceston's sewerage system on the river.
Mr Hart said if any engineers wanted to put a project in front of him to solve the issue of sewage ending up in the Tamar River, he would be all ears.
Ms Archer said work was already under way as part of the City Deal, and that was the best vehicle to move forward with future works on Launceston's out-of-date sewerage system.
Climate change
When asked about climate change policy, Ms Archer was quick to follow the Liberal Party line of questioning the cost of Labor's policies.
"I think Ross said we don't want to take action on climate change if it's going to wreck the economy, well we don't yet know what the effect on the economy will be of the very ambitious targets that the Labor Party has set," she said.
Mr Hart said there was far more risk if the government did nothing on climate change, pointing to Tasmania's potential for wind energy and a hydrogen plant at Bell Bay.
Business
Ensuring Northern Tasmanians have the skills to find work in the jobs of the future was a priority for both candidates, however they differed slightly in their approaches.
Ms Archer was keen to talk up the role of business and industry in training workers, as modern day employment required a range of skills that might not necessarily just be available through TAFE.
"What's really pleasing to see in Northern Tasmania ... is around industry-lead training and skills development as well, so making sure that what is actually being delivered are the skills and apprenticeships that business actually requires, she said.
Mr Hart also emphasised the importance of training and education, and highlighted Labor's commitment to restore funding to TAFE. He added it was important to work with regional stakeholders to look at strategic investments to grow the region, not just "pick winners".
Franking credits
Labor's policy of ending cash refunds for franking credits has generated debate among retirees.
"I understand that some people will be affected," Mr Hart said. But he added that the money could be spent on other "vitally important" things such as hospitals and schools, along with access to dental care for pensioners and caps on private health insurance increases.
Ms Archer said concerns had been raised with her across the Bass electorate, and she said Labor had not considered the consequences of ending the cash refunds.
She claimed some retirees had told her they would be unable to pay for their private health insurance without them.
Ms Archer said it would impact on retirees' "discretionary spending".
Public housing, homelessness
Tasmania's housing crisis is continuing to hurt the disadvantaged, but neither candidate committed to wiping Housing Tasmania's debt.
Ms Archer said shortages of housing and homelessness are a symptom of a rapidly growing economy.
"Some of those challenges have been generated by a rapidly growing economy that we've seen," she said.
Mr Hart said he had been writing numerous letters to state Housing Minister Roger Jaensch as individual cases came to him.
He said it was a "real crisis" Labor would be seek to address by investing in public housing through community housing corporations, and retaining negative gearing on new housing stock.
Raising Newstart
Labor has promised a review of Newstart with a view to raising it, while the Liberal Party has no stated policy.
Ms Archer questioned if raising Newstart will help people struggling with the cost of living.
"If we just raise Newstart by a figure of whatever figure that may be determined, is that going to have an effect on peoples lives?" Ms Archer said.
Mr Hart pointed to his previous statements that the figure was "shamefully low" and should be increased.
He added the review was needed to avoid "poverty traps" where Newstart intersects with other elements of the welfare system.
Federal leadership
Both candidates claimed the leadership turmoil afflicting federal politics was a thing of the past.
Mr Hart said opposition leader Bill Shorten had received an overwhelmingly positive reaction during his visits to Launceston, while Ms Archer praised Prime Minister Scott Morrison's leadership during and after the party's spill last year.