Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the man who wants his job - Tony Abbott - have met for the final leaders' debate of the election campaign.
After a fiery debate last week, the people's forum at Rooty Hill in Sydney's west has seen the leaders keep their tempers in check.
As he has done throughout the election campaign, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd again attempted to convince voters the Coalition has some nasty surprises in store if it wins the election.
"RUDD: Tony why don't you tonight release the details of the 200 policies your shadow treasurer said today have been fully costed and produce your budget bottom line now. Otherwise people will fear that you are being evasive about this question until election eve. ABBOTT: There he goes again. RUDD: Fair question. ABBOTT: More fear, more scare and this I regret to say is the whole basis for Mr Rudd's pitch for relection. RUDD: How about a straight answer to a straight question? ABBOTT: After six years this is the best he can do."
For the first time this campaign, Mr Abbott has been able to counter the government's attacks with $31-billion worth of savings released by his Treasurer Joe Hockey just hours before the debate.
Labor's attack on the Coalition's Paid Parental Leave scheme also continued, and seems to have had an impact on at least one undecided voter.
"AUDIENCE MEMBER: I give the commonsense test to policies. Now your policy of paid parental leave is a great policy but I just think the forklift driver in Mount Druitt shouldn't be paying his taxes so a pretty little lady lawyer on the North Shore earning 180,000 a year can have a kid. ABBOTT: Well that's a fair point Ian, if it were true. But you see it's big business that will be paying the levy that will fund the lion's share of the difference in cost between my scheme - which I think is a fair and just scheme. AUDIENCE MEMBER: I think it's a good scheme, yeah."
In an impressive feat, the audience of supposedly undecided voters managed to secure a promise from both leaders that they would keep their pre-election promises, even that means they take longer to return the budget to surplus.
The promise seemed harder to extract from Mr Abbott.
"MODERATOR: So you'll keep all your promises even if it means a slower return to surplus? ABBOTT: All of our promises David are actually economically responsible. Building better infrastructure, cutting taxes: MODERATOR: You'll keep them all though even if it means pushing back the surpluse. ABBOTT: Yes David... MODERATOR: Alright let's get a response quickly from the Prime Minister. RUDD: In relation to the government's undertakings you have that absolute commitment."
Mr Abbott has also made a new promise not to shut any Medicare Local offices - a commitment his health spokesman Peter Dutton would not make earlier in the week.
The major parties' increasingly tough asylum seeker policies are frequently linked with winning votes in marginal western Sydney seats.
But the issue wasn't raised by any of the 16 voters who got to put their questions directly to the two prime ministerial hopefuls.
Instead, questions on education, jobs, aged care, disability support, dental care and the environment featured.
One voter suggested Australia should ban foreigners from buying up rural land.
Mr Rudd indicated his preference for joint ventures involving Australian and overseas firms.
Mr Abbott pledged to refer more overseas purchases to the Foreign Investment Review Board.
"It's something that has to be judged on a case by case basis and I certainly don't think we should have a colour bar as it were on these things. That would be a shocking thing to do. The Foreign Investment Review Board scrutinises all investments by state-owned enterprises whereas there are thresholds for the scrutiny of investments by private businesses."
After the one hour debate, 45 of the voters said they'd decided to cast their ballots for Mr Rudd, 38 had been talked around by Mr Abbott, and 19 remained undecided.
