Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Bill Shorten have clashed on climate change, child care and free speech in a wide-ranging debate.
The prime minister and opposition leader fronted the National Press Club in Canberra for the third and final televised debate less than two weeks out from the May 18 election.
In an attempt to shake up the debate format, the leaders were each given the chance to ask each other two questions.
Mr Morrison used his opportunity to ask about Labor's changes to superannuation and franking credits which he described as a "heinous tax" on self-funded retirees.
Bill Shorten and Scott Morrison shake hands at the third leaders debate in Canberra last week. Source: AAP
Mr Shorten asked his opponent why he would not support its plans to reduce the cost of child care and cancer treatment.
'Smile Bill'
The leaders sparred over the future make up of their teams with Mr Shorten referencing the resignation of several Coalition frontbenchers.
"If you win you'll have more people to promote because so many of your current ministry is leaving," Mr Shorten said.
"No need to get nasty," Mr Morrison responded, before telling his opponent to lighten up.
"Smile Bill, it was a joke."
Mr Shorten did not see the funny side.
"I'm sorry if you think that so many of your people leaving is the source of great amusement. I think it's more a judgement on the government."
The focus was on Labor policies during the debate. Source: AAP
Responding to a question from debate moderator Sabra Lane about fallen Wallabies star Israel Folau's case, Mr Shorten said he was "uneasy" about the situation.
"I don't think if you're gay you're going to hell. ... So I am uneasy. On the Folau matter I'm also uneasy if he has genuinely held views and he could suffer some sort of really significant penalty," he said.
While Mr Morrison said he admired people of religious conviction but public figures had a higher responsibility and Folau was subject to contract and employment law.
The two leaders clashed on climate change as they have done many times during the campaign.
"We all know the Liberal Party tears itself apart over climate change," Mr Shorten said.
Mr Morrison responded by again calling on Labor to outline the cost of its climate policies.
"It's not a dishonest question, it's a fair question."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten went head-to-head for the first time during the campaign in Perth. Source: AAP
Unpopular policies
The debate opened with both leaders naming boat turnbacks as an example of something they have done that was unpopular, but the right thing to do.
Mr Morrison went back to his first ministry under Tony Abbott, immigration.
"Many of the policies we took to that election to secure our borders, to turn boats back where it was safe to do so were opposed by many people and the turnback policy wasn't popular," he said.
"But we did it and achieved the outcome."
Mr Shorten also nominated his push to have Labor accept the turnback policy in the face of considerable opposition within the party.
"I felt that the experience of defeating the people smugglers proved that Labor needed to change because I have a view that Labor isn't always right on everything and Liberals aren't always wrong and of course vice versa," he said.
The Labor leader drew the first laughter of the night, with a snappy response to a question about his role in the instability that has plagued Australian politics over the past decade.
"I think we need one more change of prime minister then we can finish it for a while," he said.
