Coalition edges ahead in two-party vote

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declared his government won't change penalty rates if re-elected, while saying the decision is up to the independent umpire.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten shake hands during a leaders debate Source: AAP

Malcolm Turnbull's coalition team has edged ahead of Labor, as the prime minister sought to head off a damaging attack over Medicare.

The latest poll came as Mr Turnbull declared his government would not change penalty rates during its three-year term if reinstalled on July 2.

But, the prime minister also washed his hands of any rates decision, insisting it's a matter for the independent Fair Work Commission.

During the first online debate of an Australian election campaign, his counterpart Bill Shorten promised to write a submission arguing for penalty rate protection if he becomes prime minister next month.

Mr Turnbull believes governments have no place telling the commission what to do.

The debate, streamed by Facebook and news.com.au, followed the release of a 7News-ReachTel poll that gave the coalition a 51-49 two-party lead for the first time since the campaign began.

The coalition's primary vote of 43.5 per cent is well ahead of Labor's 33.6 per cent.

Mr Turnbull's better prime minister rating has also climbed over the week to 57.6 per cent.

Following a lacklustre campaign week, Labor has been running an advertising blitz featuring former prime minister Bob Hawke accusing the coalition of privatising Medicare.

It is based on a $5 million coalition plan to set up a task force within the health department to review the way in which payments are delivered.

"Medicare will never ever be privatised," Mr Turnbull told reporters in northern NSW on Friday.

"Medicare will never ever be sold. Medicare is a core government service. It will always be delivered by the government and every element of Medicare's activities will continue to be delivered by the government."

The ReachTel poll showed 55.8 per cent of voters believed a coalition government would be more likely than Labor to privatise Medicare, with 69.1 per cent rating the current Medicare system as good or very good.

Labor strategists - who have volunteers cold-calling voters on the issue in marginal seats - say protecting Medicare is strongly resonating in the election campaign.

Mr Shorten told reporters in Hobart the prime minister was "a man under pressure".

"If you take the payment system out of the hands of the public purse and give it to a private, profit-making entity, you are compromising the basics of Medicare," Mr Shorten said.

Allegations of misleading conduct made by the consumer watchdog against health insurer Medibank Private showed the necessity for a strong government hand in health.

The prime minister was in the marginal Nationals seat of Page to announce $25 million for a business incentive package aimed at boosting job prospects.

Mr Turnbull also faced questions over a Muslim cleric invited to a dinner at Kirribilli House on Thursday night.

Inviting Sheikh Shady Al-Suleiman, who said in 2013 AIDS was a fitting punishment for being homosexual, was an oversight that was now the subject of a review, he said.

"I will always condemn any remarks which disrespect any part of our community, whether it is on the basis of their sexuality, their gender, their race, their religion," Mr Turnbull said.

Mr Shorten made a commitment to support 20,000 young people each year, offering them training in preparation for work.

Labor's Working Futures program will be funded by money set aside in the May 3 budget for the government's PaTH program.

Friday's debate peaked at 13,400 live online views but was also broadcast on Sky News and ABC 24.