The AGE expects that significant differences in policy will affect voters decision as early voting starts on June 14 and urges both sides to give some prominence to neglected issues including mental health and poverty.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten had been considered unlikely to go anywhere near winning government, and Mr Turnbull was thought almost certain to be the clear victor. Instead, the contest is unexpectedly tight.
Significant differences in policy have emerged, which will help inform the 4 million people expected to vote early, which they can do from June 14.
The budget battle has become almost surreal; it is ludicrous to be arguing about 10-year financial projections when so many variables are in play. Four-year forecasts are all-but never accurate.
The government's proposal, which makes the system fairer by preventing wealthy people from gaining an unfair advantage and gives added incentives to those on lower incomes, is superior.
On the negative gearing of investment in property and financial instruments, Labor's policy to reduce this distortion of the taxation system is also something we have long called for.
The government's corporate tax cut is unlikely to provide a sufficiently good return on investment to justify its cost. This has given the opposition the space to invest more than the Coalition in education and health, and this is likely to attract voter support.
In aggregate terms, there is, as there has been for a long time, very little difference between the two sides' spending and taxing as a proportion of the economy, despite the shrill rhetoric, particularly from the Coalition.
In the remaining weeks of the campaign, we urge both sides to give some prominence to neglected issues including mental health and poverty.
