Labor unleashed `mother of scare campaigns' in Tasmanian poll

BOTH the Liberals and Greens have accused Labor of the "mother of all scare campaigns" in the final days of the campaign.

BOTH the Liberals and Greens have accused Labor and Premier David Bartlett of the "mother of all scare campaigns" in the final days of the campaign.

The latest polls suggest there is a real possibility a minority government will be voted in on Saturday after 12 years of majority Labor rule.

The Greens have distributed 50,000 leaflets to homes promoting "truth and integrity in politics" after the ALP dispatched 40,000 "extreme greens" flyers featuring a large photo of a syringe. The Labor flyer urged residents not to vote for the Greens because it alleged the party wanted to legalise heroin and give criminals the vote.

Greens leader Nick McKim said the party's justice policy says clearly it does not support legalising or decriminalising any illicit drug. The Labor flyer claims its accusation is backed up by a comment made by Greens MP Cassy O'Connor in state parliament last year, which Mr McKim also denies is the truth.

"Tasmanians are sick of Labor's lies and negative campaigning. The Greens will keep listening to Tasmanians, responding to their concerns, and working hard to restore truth and integrity to Tasmanian politics," he said. " I am happy to put my integrity up against Mr Bartlett's and let Tasmanians sit in judgment on Saturday."

Liberal leader Will Hodgman also accused the government of dirty tricks aimed at his party.

"I said at the start of this campaign that Labor would launch the mother of all scare campaigns and they've done so," he said yesterday. "It's one that's been based on personal attacks and downright dishonesty. The Premier and the Labor Party are running advertisements that falsely make claims about our policies, particularly the Midland Highway and a plan to attract Tasmanians back to this state.

"They are resorting to negativity and dishonest campaigns and that shows that it's a government that is desperate to do and say anything to try to cling on to power."

But ALP state secretary John Dowling said the Greens' mailout showed that Mr McKim would do anything "to distort" the facts for political gain.

"Nick McKim is insisting the Greens' health spokesperson Cassy O'Connor's comments in the Tasmanian parliament calling for an end to the prohibition of heroin doesn't reflect the Greens' views because it's not on his website," he said.