Tassie Labor trying to see the bright side

After 12 years in power, Labor looks set to lose it majority in Tasmania's parliament.

The last poll before tomorrow's election shows support for the incumbents has slumped to 35 per cent, down from 49 per cent in 2006.

But David Bartlett's trying to look on the bright side.

Earlier polls had Labor support as low at 21 percent, with almost a quarter of Tasmanians still undecided.

"They haven't switched off from us and clearly that is the case because we've gained 14 percentage points in this campaign alone,” he told ABC radio.

But a loss of two seats in the 25 seat parliament would cost Labor its majority.

The party would lose at least that many on today's figures.

One major factor for Labor has been government integrity.

David Bartlett took over as Premier, after Paul Lennon resigned amid a string of scandals and sackings.

“He's had basically 2 years to try and do a makeover job for Labor. That hasn't worked for him,” Political Analyst, Richard Herr, told SBS.

Mr Bartlett has also faced opposition from teachers and parents over education reform.

And the state's unemployment level is one percentage point above the national average.

“It's clear Labor are a spent force. If Tasmanians want to see the real change that's needed to take the state forward then I ask them to vote Liberal,” says Liberal Leader Will Hodgman.

But the protests votes are not all going to the Liberals, who need to pick up six seats to form a majority government.

The Liberals are polling 36.5 percent and the Greens 25.5 percent, meaning the most likely result is a hung parliament with the Greens holding the balance of power.

Both major parties have ruled out a formal agreement with the Greens.

“The other two parties have both said that they won't negotiate with us,” Greens Leader Nick McKim told SBS. “That's of course a matter for them whether they hold to that position after Saturday we'll just have to wait and see.”

Tasmanians elect five members in each of the five electorates, using a system of proportional representation, similar to that used in the Senate.

David Bartlett and Will Hodgman agree that in the event of a hung parliament, whichever party wins the most seats, should seek to form a minority government.

Richard Herr is predicting a final outcome of 10 seats for Labor, 10 seats Liberal and 5 Greens.

In that case, Mr Bartlett and Mr Hodgman say that whichever party wins the most votes should form a minority government.

Both men have spent much of the five-week campaigning warning against a hung parliament and attacking the Greens.

In recent days, Labor has come under fire over campaign ads and “robo-calls” claiming the Greens intend to legalise heroin and give criminals the right to vote.

In an unprecedented move former Liberal Premiers Robin Gray and Tony Rundle joined forces with former Labor Premiers Paul Lennon and Michael Field to release a statement against minority government.

Tasmnia had a Liberal minority government from 1996 under Tony Rundle and a Labor minority government from 1989 under Michael Field.

Neither lasted a full term.

Mr Field calls his experience “traumatic.”

“On both occasions where there's been no majority in the state government, the term has been short, business confidence has dropped, the social cohesion has diminished and there's been a short term unstable government,” he told SBS.

But Richard Herr says it is possible to have a stable minority government.

The Greens have adopted a more centrist position under Nick McKim, who's been dubbed a “light green.”

Along with traditional Greens issues of environmental protection, Mr McKim's campaigned on cost of living.

“You would assume they would carry that strategy forward and therefore it would be a different dynamic if it is a minority government,” Dr Herr says.

The Greens say they are willing to negotiate with both major parties, and that none of the issues, including the controversial plans for a pulp mill in the Tamar Valley, are “deal-breakers”.