Both leaders changed their original plans for the day and inspected flood recovery efforts in New South Wales.
But the party machine still creaked on as the countdown continues towards pre-poll voting, opening in a week.
The Labor Opposition fired the first salvo of the day, launching a plan to introduce a mandatory quota for apprentices on federally funded projects over $10 million.
Under the $4 million program, one in 10 places on national projects would be for apprentices.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the plan would mean 2,600 more placements for youths and retrenched mature-aged workers.
"In the last three years under the Liberal Party, Australia's lost 120,000 apprenticeships. We've seen major cuts to training budgets, and we've seen a blowout in vocational-education private-sector rorts and scams. Labor wants to swing the pendulum back to TAFE. Labor wants to see the pendulum swung back to encouraging the employment of apprentices. We are committed to real jobs and real skills."
Meanwhile, the Coalition has launched a new attack ad lampooning Mr Shorten's past support for lowering the corporate tax rate.
Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison is accusing Mr Shorten of hypocrisy.
"Mr Shorten is just playing rank politics, pure politics, on this issue. He understands, if he's honest with the Australian people, why this is a good plan for jobs and growth. It's not a game, Bill. This is the success of our future economy. The jobs of millions of Australians depend on the continued investment and performance of these companies."
Mr Shorten has also come under attack for failing to support the unions in a pay dispute between Victorian volunteer firefighters and the union.
Volunteer firefighters from the Country Fire Authority say a proposed pay deal would give too much power to the United Firefighters Union, undermining volunteerism.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has backed the CFA volunteers, promising to change the Fair Work Act to support them if his Government is re-elected.
Mr Shorten says the unions cannot dictate to him nor rule him, accusing Mr Turnbull of playing politics.
"He wants to distract from the fact that he doesn't have a positive agenda of his own. Mr Turnbull has never taken a great interest in industrial relations, other than being one of Tony Abbott's rubber stamps when it came to Work Choices. When it comes to standing up for volunteers, I'd submit to you please examine the Fair Work Act. It was Labor who put in protections for volunteers. It was Liberal, when the Fair Work Act was finally presented to the Senate after a series of amendments, who voted against the Fair Work Act."
Elsewhere, former prime minister John Howard has joined the campaign trail to help his former staffer Jamie Briggs retain what is deemed to be a safe seat, Mayo, in the Adelaide Hills.
The Liberal Mr Briggs faces a challenge from his own former staffer, Nick Xenophon Team candidate Rebekha Sharkie.
Polls indicate that party might get some seats in the lower house -- and possibly three seats in the Senate.
John Howard says he is not threatened by the popularity of Nick Xenophon.
"He obviously has polled well in the past in the Senate, but I don't believe he'll get any lower-house seats. But we're pragmatic people. We don't take any of these things for granted. I've seen enough of politics to know that people get into an awful pickle if they take things for granted. And that's why we're not doing that here and we're not doing it anywhere else."
Mr Xenophon maintains the Liberals are panicked about his party's growing influence.
Separately, Malcolm Turnbull has used a visit to storm-damaged Picton, south-west of Sydney, to call for the third and final leaders debate to be the country's first-ever online.
Mr Turnbull confirmed he will not attend a so-called people's forum in Brisbane, saying Sky News announced it was hosting the debate without securing his agreement.
He says his proposed deal with Facebook and news.com.au would let millions of voters engage with the debate.
"The old formats don't allow that interactivity. I mean, we are in 2016. This is the 21st century. This is the time of innovation. This is the most exciting time to be an Australian and to participate in an election debate in the media of our time."
Mr Shorten says he is willing to debate the Prime Minister anytime, anywhere.
Share
