On day 18 of the federal election campaign, all sides of politics are keeping the focus squarely on the nation's finances.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was campaigning in Cairns in the seat of Leichhardt. He urged Australians to stay the course with the Coalition despite the huge annual inflation rate of 5.1 per cent.
The sell could be made more difficult for the incumbents if the Reserve Bank raises the cash rate at its May board meeting, as some economists predict.
To soften the blow, the PM reminded voters that a one-off cost of living support payments will be hitting bank accounts this week.
Mr Morrison splashed the cash in far north Queensland, with a $24 million commitment for upgrading the Cairns Marine Maintenance Precinct and $56.2 million in road safety improvements for regional freight operators.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese was still confined to his Sydney home due to COVID, but his interview with outspoken child abuse advocate Grace Tame was doing the rounds.
Accompanied by black-and-white photos of Mr Albanese wearing a dark coat, collar upturned, the question-and-answer article delved into his childhood.
Tame reportedly teared up at Mr Albanese's account of his mother's decision to raise her son at a time when single parenthood was not socially acceptable.
He'll be able to come out of isolation tomorrow, ahead of the official Labor campaign launch in Perth on Sunday.
Labor hammered the message that the Coalition was squarely responsible for the state of Australia economy and rising cost of living, while promising that families would save an average of $1600 in childcare fees per year if they win the election.
Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers hasn't ruled out further cost of living relief, but said it would be difficult to extend handouts into the future.
Meanwhile, One Nation's Pauline Hanson accused the government of doing a "dirty deal with the devil" by telling voters to preference the Jacqui Lambie Network in the Tasmanian Senate race ahead of One Nation.
One Nation will be urging supporters to preference Labor over the Liberals in key seats.
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