Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wrapped up campaigning in South Australia ahead of a televised debate with the opposition leader in Sydney.
Bill Shorten, meanwhile, was already in the New South Wales capital to promote Labor's pledge of teaching scholarships for science, technology and maths graduates.
It comes as the High Court rejected a legal challenge to recent Senate voting reforms filed on the basis of claims they breach the Constitution.
Turnbull: "Bill Shorten represents a dangerous threat to our economy. He is going to deter investment."
Shorten: "Mr Turnbull can call me all the names under the sun he likes. What I think is dangerous for the Australian economy is that this government has tripled the deficit."
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and opposition leader Bill Shorten traded words ahead of their first debate - or peoples' forum -- in western Sydney.
Mr Turnbull was in Adelaide to make his first campaign announcement, an $85 million investment in an extension to the Tonsley rail line that he says will transform the area.
"It's going to connect Flinders University, the medical centre to the Tonsley rail line. It's going to make it easier for students to get to and from the university, it's going to make it easier for the innovators to work together, it's going to improve the amenity, the liveability of this part of Adelaide."
Mr Shorten was in the marginal Liberal-held seat of Reid to promote Labor's pledge of providing 25,000 teaching scholarships for science, technology, engineering and maths graduates -- also known as STEM.
"I want to see as many young women going into science and mathematics as we see men and I want to make sure that well-trained graduates come back to teaching, that's why we're giving them the scholarships."
Opposition Education spokeswoman Kate Ellis says parents would be horrified if they knew the number of teachers delivering STEM subjects, but are lacking the relevant qualifications.
"In fact a recent survey of principals said that 51 per cent of them said that they had teachers in the classrooms in STEM subjects who did not have relevant qualifications in the area. We also know that 40 per cent of those who are teaching maths in the Years 7 through to 10 do not have a background in maths qualifications."
The issue of negative gearing continues to be high on the agenda.
Some of Australia's biggest real estate firms are launching a campaign against Labor's plans to curb the property investment tax deduction, warning families, renters and homeowners the policy is an "economy killer".
Opposition Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen has dismissed it as a scare campaign, saying the industry is not providing any evidence to back the claims.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also addressed the issue while campaigning in the Blue Mountains town of Bilpin.
"The Coalition will not be changing the negative gearing rules, as opposed to Labor, and there are about 7,500 people in this electorate who negatively gear property. About 4,500 are on a taxable income of under $80,000. They will not have those opportunities if Labor is able to implement its plan to affect negative gearing."
The latest developments come as the High Court threw out a challenge to Senate voting reforms brought by Family First Senator, Bob Day.
The Court ruled that new electoral rules approved by parliament less than two months before the double-dissolution election was called are valid.
Reacting to the ruling, Senator Day said the upcoming election will be like no other before it.
"Australia is the only English-speaking country in the world that has compulsory voting. You are forced to vote and if you are forced to vote, then you will make your vote count and therefore with these changes to the voting laws, no longer does your vote above the line now flow through a group voting ticket to other preferences, so we would encourage voters to fill in as many boxes as possible above the line or below the line. "
Independent Senator David Leyonhjelm says a principle is at stake.
"What we know is that 25 per cent of the population, when they are voting in the Senate prefer a minor party. Now they are not all going to want to vote for family first and Liberal Democrats, a lot of them will want to vote for another small party. It will go nowhere. That's the shame of it, that's the shame of it."
Share
