Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has declared the election campaign a "budgie smuggler free zone."
On day seven of the election campaign Mr Abbott and Liberal frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull chatted to nippers and life savers on Bondi Beach on Sunday morning.
They announced a $15 million boost over five years to surf clubs and a crackdown on drowning black spots.
There was also a $500,000 grant for the North Bondi Lifesaving Club.
"This beach doesn't just serve locals it essentially serves the world," Mr Abbott reporters, referring to the hordes of sunburnt backpackers who flock to the famous beach.
Mr Abbott is a member of the Queenscliff Surf Lifesaving club.
Asked if he should have made the announcement in his budgie smugglers Mr Abbott laughed and said: "Election campaigns should be budgie smuggler free zones.
"You won't see me in budgies this side of polling day."
Mr Abbott swapped his usual swimwear choice for a blue shirt and jeans, matching Mr Turnbull's attire.
Earlier on Sunday, Mr Abbott donned gym clothes and joined 85,000 people pounding the pavement between Sydney's CBD and Bondi, running alongside blind athlete Nathan Johnstone in the City2Surf.
He joked that seeing the election posters with Mr Turnbull's splendid face kept him going while running up Heartbreak Hill.
Mr Abbott said he had not focused on what he would say at the National Press Club leaders debate, during the race.
"I was busy keeping up with Nathan," Mr Abbott said.
"I'll be focused on the right path for Australia tonight but it was about the right path for Nathan this morning."
When asked if he would be "Dr Yes" or "Mr Relentless Negativity" at the debate, Mr Abbott said his strategy was to be himself.
"I'm very anxious about Tony Abbott's debate tonight," Mr Turnbull said.
"Who is he going to be debating? Is it going to be Kevin the fiscal conservative? Is it going to be Kevin the-government-must-be-at-the-centre-of-the-economy? Is it going to be Kevin savings or Kevin spend spend spend?"
Mr Turnbull joked the prime minister could debate himself and leave Mr Abbott unable to get to get a word in edgewise.
"You could probably take the night off," he told Mr Abbott.
