Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has described the looming federal election as a choice between the stability of the coalition and "dysfunction" of Labor, and declared his team ready for the likely September 7 poll.
Speaking at the opening of a Melbourne campaign office at Beaconsfield, Mr Abbott talked up the stability within coalition ranks, and the fact it had maintained the same parliamentary team over the past three years.
"I want assure the people of Australia that I will be a builder," Mr Abbott said in his pre-campaign pitch.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"I want to build the infrastructure of the future.
"I want to build a strong economy so that everyone can get ahead.
"Most of all I want to build a better society that every Australian knows he or she is capable of."
The upcoming election was the "clearest choice in a generation",
Mr Abbott added
Australians were sick of minority government and the hung parliament, he said.
They were also sick of "faceless men deciding who the prime minister of our country should be", in reference to the leadership coups which saw Mr Rudd dumped and then returned as Labor leader.
"That's why this election is a choice between strength and stability under the coalition, or more chaos, division and dysfunction under the Labor party," Mr Abbott said.
The September 7 rumours come a day after Labor's economic update predicted weaker economic growth, growing unemployment and more government debt, as well as a $33.3 billion writedown in revenues.
With release of the economic statement, and after introducing Labor party reforms and new policies on carbon pricing and asylum seekers, Mr Rudd is seen to have cleared the decks for the poll.
Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey said he expected the prime minister to call an election soon.
"It's about putting the Australian people out of their misery," Mr Hockey told reporters in Sydney.
With increasing debt, asylum seeker boat arrivals and predictions of higher unemployment, callingan election was better not only for the people, but Mr Rudd too, he added.
"If I were Kevin Rudd I'd be going to the polls as soon as possible," he said.
