The nation's strong economic growth is his signature achievement in government, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says.
He said the coalition had a national economic plan for jobs and growth and had already delivered elements of that plan.
"We are seeing strong business confidence, strong levels of employment growth and that is because my Government's economic plan is working. I need three more years to complete it," he told ABC television.
While Opposition Leader Bill Shorten faced a people's forum in Brisbane, the prime minister chose to make his first election campaign appearance on the ABC 730 program. It was no easy ride.
"Why should Australians re-elect a Government that considered its own performance so poor that it dumped a first-term PM and on the economy has basically tread water for three years?" asked presenter Leigh Sales.
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The Prime Minister said he paid no attention to polling, which showed the coalition neck and neck with Labor and a substantial decline in his personal popularity.
"I am not going to be drawn into that kind of introspection. My job is to focus on the needs of Australians," he said.
Mr Turnbull stood by proposed cuts to company tax, saying they would quickly deliver benefits to medium-sized businesses.
"There are no banks among them. The vast majority of the companies that will benefit between this election and the next election are family-owned Australian businesses employing Australians," he said.
"If they get that tax cut, they will invest more and they will employ more."
