Australia's last Liberal premier pulled the trigger on an early election to overcome the "instability and uncertainty" of minority government.
But if voting follows opinion polls, neither of Tasmania's major parties will be able to reach the required 18 seats to form a majority at the March 23 poll.
A recent survey indicated more than a third of voters are set to snub the Liberals and Labor, who have been in opposition for a decade.
Independent candidate for the rural seat of Lyons, John Tucker, was one of two Liberals whose decision to quit the party in May plunged the government into minority.
In January, he threatened to pull his vote of supply and confidence in the government, sparking an unresolved stand-off with Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
Mr Tucker says he's getting more support on the campaign trail as an independent than he did as a Liberal.
"Even to the point where it is dividing relationships," he said.
"I've got wives who are saying 'my husband doesn't want me to put any signs on the property, but I'm voting for you'.
"Overall I'm pretty pleased with where I'm sitting at the moment and what I'm hearing on the streets."
Tasmania's lower house is being restored from 25 to 35 members, dropping the vote required for a candidate to get elected.
Mr Tucker said cost-of-living struggles and access to health care have been the biggest issues raised by voters.
He hasn't ruled out working with his former party in some sort of minority government scenario but says there have been no preliminary chats with the Liberals or Labor.
"I will not be ruling out anything. I'm not going to say I won't deal with anyone," he said.
"I'm prepared to work for good government and that is what I will do, with either party."
Mr Tucker supports Labor's forestry policy over the Liberals, saying it provides greater certainty around plantation timber supply for local sawmillers.
Incumbent independent in the Hobart-based seat of Clark, Kristie Johnston, has urged the major parties to work constructively with any crossbench.
She took a crack at the Liberals for labelling Labor minority governments a "coalition of chaos".
"What both political parties need to understand is the parliament will be made up of who the people elect," she said.
"This fear-mongering campaign about minority government is not fair on the community. It's disrespectful."
Ms Johnston, who has pushed for greater political transparency and improved animal welfare standards, says she won't "do deals" with the majors but would look to provide stability to parliament.
Mr Rockliff has ruled out doing deals with Greens but has indicated he is open to working with a potential crossbench.
Labor leader Rebecca White says she won't do deals with the Greens or minor parties.
The Greens, who hold two seats, are chasing the balance of power to "push" Labor.
"We can't have fiddling around the edges any longer." Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff told ABC radio.
"We need big investments in health, housing and education and ... to end native forest logging and burning."
The Jacqui Lambie Network, formed by the senator who hails from Tasmania's northwest, could attract the votes of almost one in ten people.
The network, which is running candidates in all electorates bar one, has defended its decision to not release policy, but is intending to issue a "discussion paper".
"Our goal is to shine a light on the decision making ... and make sure that it's in the best interests of the Tasmanian people," Senator Lambie said.
A record 167 candidates have their hat in the ring, with seven MPs to be elected in each of the state's five electorates.
David O'Byrne, Labor's biggest vote-getter three years ago in Franklin, is running for re-election as an independent after being booted from the party room over sexual harassment allegations.
He's open to working with the Liberals and Labor and has campaigned on boosting housing availability and improving public transport.
Mr O'Byrne, unlike Labor, supports a new $715 million Hobart stadium - a condition of the AFL granting Tasmania the licence for a team.
"An AFL club is very important to me - that's a key issue," he said.
"The people will deliver a parliament and they expect us to get on with the job and make it work."
The latest EMRS polling of 1000 people had support for the Liberals at 39 per cent, Labor (26), independents (14), the Greens (12), Jacqui Lambie Network (nine) and other (one).
Former Liberal Sue Hickey, who sensationally voted with opposition parties to claim the speakership in 2018, is having another go as an independent candidate in Clark.
She lists housing as the state's biggest problem and would provide confidence and supply for a major party to form government.
"We can't have a parliament that doesn't have confidence and supply, but there will be accountability," she said.
Lara Alexander, who quit to the crossbench with Tucker, is running in Bass.
Australian Associated Press
