Leaders make their pitch for votes after election date set for 18 May

The federal election will be held on 18 May, with the official five-week campaign underway.

Source: AAP

Australians will go to the polls on 18 May after Prime Minister Scott Morrison ended weeks of speculation and fired the starter's gun on the official election campaign. 

Mr Morrison announced the date after visiting the Governor-General Peter Cosgrove early on Thursday morning, asking him to dissolve the 45th Parliament and issue the writs for an election.

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