Federal parliament has been formally deferred as the election campaign kicks into gear.
Complete with a 19-gun salute, the formalities were done by the governor-general's secretary Stephen Brady.
Mr Brady read the proclamation dissolving parliament at 4.59pm (AEST) and it was then posted on the doors of the House of Representatives.
The election writs were due to be issued shortly thereafter and take effect from 6pm.
Asylum seeker debate rages
As parliament was deferred, the coalition and the Greens weighed in on a key election issue; the link between asylum seekers and Australia's population growth.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been arguing against a 'big Australia', while Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has called on the Productivity Commission to provide annual advice on infrastructure needs for sustainable growth.
"We feel that people are in a sense taking advantage of us, that the people smugglers ... are in charge of the immigration program," Mr Abbott said on Sunday.
Mr Morrison on Monday defended the opposition leader, but conceded the number of asylum seekers coming to Australia did not affect population growth.
"The number of asylum seekers, refugees, humanitarian entrants we take is 13,750. That hasn't changed," he said.
"That hasn't contributed to population increase and neither the coalition or the government are looking to change that figure."
"The link relates to a country and particularly a government's capacity to generate confidence in the Australian people that their immigration program is being well run," he told Sky News.
"A community has to feel confident about our level of intake."
Greens 'offer only difference'
The Greens slammed both major parties, saying there is no difference between their approaches on the sensitive issue.
"The Greens are the only party that is offering that at the moment," said Senator Hanson-Young.
She said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees hadn't been briefed on Labor's plans for a regional processing centre.
"The agency's own guidelines for the situation in Afghanistan have not changed and yet the government is not heeding them," said Senator Hanson-Young.
"We know that the UNHCR seem to be very concerned that this government is using them as cover.
