Mediaboss Marketing

March 14, 2014, 5:54 a.m.

Tasmania's front-running Liberals are said to have copied their first post-election priority in government directly from the playbook of Queensland LNP Premier Campbell Newman.

Tasmania's front-running Liberals are said to have copied their first post-election priority in government directly from the playbook of Queensland LNP Premier Campbell Newman.

Liberal leader Will Hodgman is closing on majority government at Saturday's election after 16 years in opposition, as the electorate turns away from Labor.

Polling by EMRS and ReachTEL over the past two months consistently showed a likely Liberal majority in the 25-seat House of Assembly. The latest Newspoll result, released on Thursday, had the Liberals on 53 per cent statewide.

But the copycat policy is emerging as a test of Mr Hodgman's credentials after the campaign was marked by sustained attacks from Labor and the Greens over his ability to stand up for the state.

Mr Hodgman's First 100 Days Implementation Plan copies Mr Newman's First 100 Days Action Plan in form - and in its most crucial commitment.

Labor Premier Lara Giddings said the decision to duplicate Mr Newman's policy showed up the flaws in the Liberal campaign.

''Will Hodgman is copying Campbell Newman with his unemployment policy, when Mr Newman has actually driven the rate up,'' Ms Giddings said.

Queensland's unemployment rate rose in February to 6.1 per cent in trend terms, according to ABS figures released on Thursday. With unemployment running at 7.4 per cent, Tasmania remains the worst-affected state in the country.

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Will Hodgman taking his post-election plan straight from Campbell Newman