Prime Minister Kevin Rudd spent the first full day of the federal election campaign hosting Labor's last cabinet meeting and tying up the loose ends of the 43rd parliament.
The official end came at 5.29pm (AEST), when the Governor-General's official secretary Stephen Bradbury read out a proclamation dissolving parliament at the front of Parliament House.
This allowed the writs to be issued for the September 7 poll, and was underscored by a 19-gun artillery salute witnessed by more than 300 people.
But Mr Rudd did have time to confirm $650 million of government spending on initiatives for the child care and car industry and conduct a round of interviews to restate Labor's commitment to support jobs and help families manage living costs.
"What the Australian people want is a new approach to the future, which is based on positive policy and bringing the country together," he said on Monday.
Two new opinion polls show the coalition has a two to four percentage point lead over Labor, which faces a tough battle maintain its 71 existing seats while gaining up to five more to retain government in its own right.
The first Newspoll of the campaign put the coalition two-party lead at 52-48 per cent while the Essential poll put the lead at 51-49 per cent.
Both poll results were unchanged for the previous surveys, implying there might be some upside for either side in the next round of voter responses now the campaign is underway.
However, the Essential poll also said three quarters of voters have already decided which party they will vote for, with 44 per cent of saying they will "definitely not" change their mind.
Mr Rudd emerged from his meetings at 3pm on Monday, to again challenge Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to a public debate as soon as possible.
It appears the first confrontation between the leaders could take place at the National Press Club in Canberra on Sunday.
This would be a US-style presidential debate, with members of the federal press gallery grilling Mr Rudd and Mr Abbott.
Mr Rudd is expected to be in Brisbane early on Tuesday for his first full day on the campaign trail for a debate in his seat of Griffith against LNP hopeful Bill Glasson, the Greens' Geoff Ebbs and Karin Hunter for the Palmer United Party.
