The Coalition has announced today it will preference Labor ahead of the Greens in every federal seat. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he is not willing to form a minority government, and has called on Labor to do the same.
The move could put the only Greens member in the House of Representatives, Adam Bandt, at risk of losing his seat. Mr Bandt was elected with the help of Liberal Party preferences in 2010. He says he will aim to win back his seat outright.
Tony Abbott has responded to yesterday's "sex appeal" gaffe, saying he had a "daggy dad moment". NITV political reporter Brooke Boney is following Tony Abbott on the campaign trail. Follow her on Twitter for more updates.
In finance news, an independent assessment of the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook (PEFO) released yesterday has echoed the findings of the federal government, and confirmed the economy is likely to slow this year.
Kevin Rudd this morning announced a planned funding boost for the Bureau of Meteorology, setting aside $58.5 million for a new National Centre for Extreme Weather.
And finally, the Australian election is already proving to be fodder for international comedians, with John Oliver from the Daily Show dissecting some of the more cringe-worthy moments on the campaign trail. You can see it here.
