The prime minister and opposition leader have spent the second day of the official election campaign in Queensland.
The coalition was keen to talk jobs, growth and business tax cuts, while education remained Labor's policy focus.
But even the best laid plans for an electioneering agenda can be derailed.
Labor armed itself with details of how much extra money it would give schools in every electorate, with leader Bill Shorten keen to keep his focus on education.
The opposition has promised a $3.8 billion boost to school funding in 2018 and 2019 as part of a pledge to fully fund the Gonski plan.
Mr Shorten and education spokeswoman Kate Ellis visited Heatley State School in Townsville.
Ms Ellis says the Labor data that's been released shows every student and every school community will benefit from the party's education plans.
"In this electorate alone, there will be an additional $48 million over just two years, supporting students, supporting principals and teachers. Across Queensland, that figure is $725 million additional over those two years."
But other issues seemed to dominate the day.
Labor was repeatedly tackled on its asylum seeker policies, following mounting speculation over dissent in party ranks.
Mr Shorten declared that, if elected to power, his party would continue to oppose people smugglers and turn boats back.
"We will not be lectured by an opportunistic government who are actually sending a message to people smugglers that somehow there is any division in Australian political government after July 2. I will put the safety of people first."
And that wasn't the only topic off Mr Shorten's official agenda.
Voting preferences dominated discussion across all major parties.
It stemmed from Greens MP Adam Bandt raising the prospect of forming an alliance with a minority coalition or Labor government in the event of a hung parliament.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, whose party has ruled out governing with the support of the Greens, used the occasion to warn of a return to a past political scenario.
"Why would we run the risk of having another Labor-Greens independent government, another hung parliament, which is plainly in contemplation of the Labor party, it is plainly in the enthusiastic contemplation of the Greens, and we know what the price will be: people smugglers back in business, much higher taxes even than those already contemplated by Labor and a much higher carbon tax even than that already contemplated by Labor."
Bill Shorten, too, appeared quick to quash the idea.
"Every time you see a Green politician saying they are against the Liberals, then why are they making it easier for the Liberals to get elected in the suburbs and regions of Australia. Or, can I put it another way to Mr Bandt and the Greens, tell them they are dreaming. No deals with Labor about forming a coalition."
But Adam Bandt had the final words on the matter for the day.
"Bill Shorten can say we are dreaming, sometimes dreams come true. And if the Australian people decide that they want a parliament where there are more than two voices who largely say the same thing then the obligation is on all of us to work together."
Still in Brisbane, Mr Turnbull spent part of the morning at a hardware shop.
Later, he visited a hospital, where he spruiked what the government regards as one of the key elements in its national economic plan: its innovation and science agenda.
"We know that a successful Australia, a confident Australia will be more innovative - more technology, more science, more collaboration of this kind. And, of course, a win-win here in the hospital environment."
Share
