Labor's troubles have not gone away despite Prime Minister Julia Gillard's firm and defiant response yesterday to an internal leak about cabinet proceedings.
Nine Network journalist Laurie Oakes on Monday quoted unnamed sources saying the PM had questioned paid parental leave and a pension boost while she was former leader Kevin Rudd's deputy.
Gillard slapped down the revelation, saying she had "asked every question" in cabinet in order to satisfy herself that the plans were affordable.
Analysts hailed her reaction as the first glimpse of 'the old Julia' that the PM has revealed in what has otherwise been a tame and stage-managed campaign.
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However, the impact of Gillard's fiery response to the leak was dampened when deputy leader Wayne Swan told the ABC that his party is powerless to stop leaks like this one.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott made a pre-dawn strike on Labor, accusing the Gillard government of being a shambles.
Mr Abbott, out for an early-morning bike ride in Melbourne on Thursday, said the government had deteriorated under Julia Gillard's watch.
"Since Julia Gillard took over, we've gone from incompetence to incompetence, chaos to chaos, shambles to shambles," he told reporters.
"It's extraordinary how Kevin Rudd's government looks disciplined compared to Julia Gillard's government."
Mr Swan rejected the criticism saying the government had "the runs on the board", especially on economic management.
"We've got a big story to tell," he told ABC Radio.
Paid parental leave continues to be part of the election campaign story as both Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott campaign in Melbourne.
Both sides are trading blows on the issue with the coalition continuing to question Ms Gillard's belief in paid parental leave.
"What's now been revealed by this series of leaks from within the government is that Julia Gillard is not a true believer in paid parental leave," opposition frontbencher Joe Hockey told ABC Radio.
The coalition has flagged it will announce another change to its business-funded scheme in the next few days.
Earlier in the week it announced carer fathers would be paid only the working wage of the child's mother.
Mr Swan said the changes of mind and a decision to cut the company tax rate to 28.5 per cent from 2013 were an indication the coalition was in "policy chaos".
"They are out of control behind the scenes," he said.
Labor has attempted to switch the focus of the campaign onto law and order on Thursday promising to crack down on weapons such as knives and knuckledusters if it wins the August 21 poll.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said the government planned on toughening weapons controls across the country in a bid to quell crime.
Customs detected more than 16,700 bladed weapons at the nation's borders last year alone, he said.
But the rescue of a boat, suspected of carrying 80 asylum seekers, near Christmas Island on Wednesday threatens to divert attention away from the promise and onto another area of Mr O'Conner's portfolio - border security.
Belinda Neal won't be adding to her party's woes though.
The controversial MP, disendorsed as Labor's candidate for the ultra-marginal NSW central coast seat of Robertson, is planning to announce that she will not stand as an independent.
