Liberal party leader Scott Morrison and Labor party leader Anthony Albanese addressed voters on Sunday after Scott Morrison called the federal election for May 21.
The Prime Minister flew from Sydney to Canberra on Sunday morning to visit Governor-General David Hurley and receive authorisation for parliament to be dissolved and for the election to be ordered.
Read more: Scott Morrison calls federal election for 21 May
Speaking at Parliament House, Scott Morrison said he knew Australians were facing tough challenges and were "tired of politics" as they head to the polls.
"I love this country. I love Australians. I know Australians have been through a very tough time. I also know that Australia continues to face very tough challenges in the years ahead.
More than ever, I know that we live in the best country in the world and more that than ever I am optimistic about our future and what I know Australians can achieve," he said.
"There's still a lot of uncertainty ahead. I get it. I get that it people are tired of politics as we go into this election."
Mr Morrison used his first official campaign speech to highlight his government's "responsible financial management", its successes in steering Australia through the COVID-19 pandemic, and its promises around tax relief, infrastructure investment and defence spending.
"By working together, we avoided the nightmare scenarios that so many countries faced in recent years. Unemployment was predicted to reach 15 per cent, but now is at just 4 per cent and falling - the equal lowest level in some 48 years.
Our economic recovery measures, especially JobKeeper, saved some 700,000 jobs and our health response, working together, has saved compared to other countries tens of thousands of lives.
"On almost any measure - on fatality rates from COVID, vaccine rates, economic growth, jobs’ growth, or debt levels - Australia’s recovery is leading the world."
Labor leader Anthony Albanese addressed reporters shortly afterwards, in his first speech of the contest.
Mr Albanese vowed to "bring the country together again".
"We are a great country, but we can be even better if we have a better government. We have had a difficult couple of years.
"Australians have been magnificent in making sacrifices to overcome the challenges of the pandemic, the floods, the bushfires. It has shown the strength of our society but it has also shown our vulnerabilities of our economy and where we need to make improvement," he said.
As we emerge from this, Australians deserve better.
Mr Albanese empathised with Australians, who he said are seeing living costs rise but not their income, but urged them to be guided by optimism rather than fear. He reiterated his party's focus on lifting wages, securing jobs, revitalising manufacturing, strengthening Medicare, investing in renewable energy and fixing the aged care crisis as well as providing affordable housing and cheaper childcare.
"Labor’s plans are aimed at easing cost of living pressures. We will build more affordable housing, we will fix the crisis in aged care. We will fix the National Broadband Network," he said.
"If I have the honour of serving as your prime minister, I can promise you this - I will lead with integrity and I will treat you with respect. I will restore faith in our political system by getting rid of the waste and rorts, and establishing a strong anti-corruption commission."