Coalition leads Labor in betting odds for Bass but trails in Braddon and Lyons

Bookies have the Coalition as favourites in only one of their three Tasmanian target seats.

THE Coalition has edged ahead of Labor as the bookies’ favourite in the seat of Bass but trails the Opposition in the betting markets for the other two Tasmanian seats considered to be in play.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison spent a sizeable chunk of the early part of the election campaign in northern Tasmania, where the Liberals have identified the potential to pick up some seats from Labor that will be critical to their chances of retaining government.

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Scott Morrison holds a baby during a Liberal Party campaign rally at Launceston Airport on April 18. Picture: RYAN PIERSE/GETTY IMAGES

In Bass, Sportsbet now has the Coalition at $1.81 to win the seat, narrowly ahead of Labor on $1.90.

Labor MP Ross Hart is fighting to become the first sitting member of any party to retain Bass in 18 years.

But Labor remains the $1.55 favourite to retain the marginal seat of Braddon in the North West, ahead of the Coalition at $2.20.

In Lyons, the other Tasmanian seat targeted by the Liberals, Labor’s Brian Mitchell remains an even shorter price favourite, at $1.20, with the Coalition at $4.

Sportsbet still backs Labor to win the election, offering $1.25 for them to form government, while the Coalition is at $3.85.

Odds in Tasmania’s two southern seats reflect their relative safety.

Labor are a lock to retain Franklin, with Sportsbet offering $1.01, while independent Andrew Wilkie is the $1.03 favourite in Clark.