Neither side of politics could avoid the furore surrounding the AFP raids on Labor over secret NBN Co documents as the leaders rounded out week two of the election campaign.
Questions over who knew what and when were lobbed at Malcolm Turnbull on Saturday, after a senior minister revealed he knew about the investigation just minutes before the prime minister's press conference.
It's the second campaigning day lost for Mr Turnbull after the Australian Federal Police raided the office of Labor senator Stephen Conroy and a staffer's home in Melbourne on Thursday.
During a visit to the NSW Central Coast seat of Dobell for a low-key environment announcement, the prime minister's doorstop was all about the raids - bar two questions.
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield had just revealed he knew NBN Co had called in the AFP, while insisting he did not advise the prime minister or other ministers.
"The referral to the AFP was made by the NBN senior management," Senator Fifield said.
"I did not instruct nor request them to do so."
But Senator Fifield's statement did little to quell questions from media, who forced the prime minister to repeat his earlier denial of any knowledge of the investigation.
The prime minister insists it was "entirely appropriate" for Senator Fifield not to tell him.
Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop also went in to bat for the communications minister, saying his statement had "absolutely not" flung the government into damage control.
"The communications minister made an absolutely appropriate statement," she told reporters in Melbourne.
Police have been investigating the leaking of confidential documents about the national broadband network after the matter was referred from NBN Co last December.
The late-night raid two weeks into an election campaign raised questions about the AFP's timing and sparked Labor allegations the Turnbull government could be behind it.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's day campaigning in western Sydney was also overshadowed by the raids but Labor doesn't appear to be in a hurry to shut down the saga.
"There are many more facts to come out," Mr Shorten told reporters in Sydney.
While Labor uses the opportunity to question the government's involvement and knowledge, Mr Shorten is also granted minutes to talk about the focus of the raids - the "embarrassing" documents.
Media stories based on the allegedly leaked documents reported delays to the NBN and cost blow-outs in revelations Labor says are embarrassing to Mr Turnbull - the former communications minister.
Mr Shorten says it's inconceivable that Senator Fifield didn't tell someone in the prime minister's office.
"It is either gross incompetence or far worse and we are not being told the truth," he told reporters.
The opposition leader was speaking after addressing a rally of volunteers in western Sydney as new polls show Mr Turnbull's popularity slipping and both sides still neck and neck for the July 2 vote.
The Labor leader was keen to remind voters his party was still the underdog while acknowledging picking up 20 extra seats in the upcoming election was a "big climb".
But Labor was putting up real choices, he said.
"As I go around Australia ... there is a distinct awakening of interest in an alternative," he told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.
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