What is it about Tasmania and Federal elections? How is it that the smallest state seems to create the most angst in the minds of the major parties? Going all the way back to the Franklin Dam issue in 1983, the Tasmanian issues have vibrated across the strait to the mainland. Most recently in 2004, Labor was hopelessly outmanoeuvred on the forestry issue in the dying days of the campaign and paid a high price. And this time a small hospital and a large pulp mill threaten to have the same impact. Not that Tasmanians necessarily welcome the attention.