While the Liberal government is expected to hold onto power in Tasmania thanks to a slick campaign focused on jobs and the economy, there are some contentious policies that could make things interesting.

The major parties were polling neck-and-neck before Christmas but the Liberals have streaked ahead leading into Saturday’s poll.

Political scientist Richard Ecclestone believes the Liberals are in the box seat after a “slick, well resourced and brutally effective” advertising campaign.

The election may also be an interesting one for the Greens, which could see their five state MPs reduced to just two.

Here are the issues that could decide the vote.

SOFTENING OF GUN LAWS

A controversial policy being proposed by the Liberals is the watering down of gun laws.

The government has been accused of trying to hide the policy, which was revealed to media on Friday despite proposed changes being released to the gun lobby weeks ago. It also wasn’t published on the Liberal Party’s website.

The party is proposing to double the duration of gun licenses to 10 years and make weapons such as pump-action shotguns more readily available.

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said his team are trying to support farmers without defying a 1996 national firearms agreement struck after the Port Arthur massacre.

“What (this policy) will do is provide a better ability for Tasmanian farmers, whose livelihoods are threatened by browsing animals and pests, to control that,” he told reporters on Friday.

Labor Leader Bec White believes the government’s firearms policy goes too far, criticising their decision to release the plan so late in the campaign rather than consulting the community sooner.

Labor insists its own intention to ease firearm restrictions on farm owners is “vastly different” to the Liberals’ because it does not include changing weapon classifications or increasing access to some guns.

POKER MACHINES

Labor has a plan to remove all poker machines from pubs and clubs within five years.

The promise has proven hugely popular in Hobart, but political analysts believe it isn’t resonating as strongly outside the state’s capital.

Labor’s pokies plan has also triggered a fierce backlash from the powerful gaming lobby, whom most suspect have thrown their finances behind the Liberal Party.

SCHOOL FUNDING

Not every high school in Tasmania has classes for Year 11 and Year 12 students so they often have to move to a different college, contributing to a high dropout rate.

Currently the final two years of school are offered at 30 of Tasmania’s 54 state high schools and under Liberal policy, this will be extended to another eight schools this year.

The party has promised $324 million over six years for education, which will see an extra 250 teachers employed and 80 teacher assistants.

But it is now facing questions over the costs of the policy, as its election promises eat into the forecast budget surplus. It had predicted a surplus of $337 million over the next four years, this has now been cut down to $104 million.

Labor has also promised a generous school package, which the Liberals suggest will take $100 million out of schools.

Labor has also promised to scrap public school fees for students, saving a family with three children about $1800 a year. It will cost the budget about $24 million a year.

It has also promised to provide free bus transport for students to their closest public school.

Overall they have promised $63 million over four years, including 201 new teachers.

HOUSING PRICES

Hobart is going through a rental crisis after a rapid rise in property prices and the popularity of services like Airbnb. Many families are now being priced out of the market.

The Liberals have promised to spend $125 million over five years on more affordable housing, stamp duty cuts for first home buyers, a $20,000 first-home builders grant, tax relief for downsizing retirees and a three-year land tax holidays for properties being rented out.

Labor will spend $106 million on 900 new public homes and supports the construction of light rail so more land can be opened up for development.