Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called the federal election for May 18 with a pledge to voters to "make your life easier" by ensuring better economic growth and posting healthy budget surpluses that can pay for health and education.
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Mr Morrison declared the election to be about "trust" and the economic record of the Liberals and Nationals in power in contrast to the higher taxes proposed by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.
Mr Shorten countered with a pledge to voters to give them a "fair go" without the division of the Coalition over the past six years.
In a sign of Labor's confidence as the campaign begins, Mr Shorten made his opening remarks from a backyard in the Melbourne suburb of Mitcham in the electorate of Deakin, an electorate once regarded as safe for the Liberals.
Mr Morrison said the Coalition's record was that it had kept the economy strong and not increased taxes.
"This is how we will take the pressure off you and your family. There is more to do and a lot has got done, and we are getting on together with the job."
Mr Morrison opened the campaign from Parliament House less than two hours after visiting Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove at Yarralumla early on Thursday morning.
Mr Morrison insisted the election was about the future rather than the instability of the past. The Liberal Party had changed its leadership rules, just as Labor had done to ensure no change in the Prime Minister in mid-term.
Schools, hospitals, medicines and roads would be "guaranteed" by a stronger economy under the Coalition without increasing taxes, the Prime Minister said at the press conference that also reprised one of the Liberal Party's most effective election rallying cries.
"Who do you trust to deliver the strong economy and the budget management that these services can be funded, that the business that you work for will be there in three years, in five years, in ten years?"
Mr Morrison repeatedly emphasised the contrast between the government and Labor on taxes, given Mr Shorten goes to the election with more than $200 billion in higher taxes over a decade because of his negative gearing, dividend imputation and family trust policies as well as his rejection of the government's personal income tax cuts.
"It's taken us more than five years to turn around Labor's budget mess. Now is not the time to turn back."
Mr Shorten sought to tap into voter discontent with the division within the Coalition including the removal of Malcolm Turnbull last August.
"If you are dissatisfied with the last six years, if you want better than the last six years, if you want a fair go for all Australians, if you want a government who is united and not constantly trying to tear each other down, then vote Labor," he said.
Mr Shorten said the "case to vote Labor" was founded on its plans to deliver more jobs, better health and better education policies, as well as action on climate change and measures to drive energy prices down.
"We'll get on top of cost of living burdens and we'll get wages moving again in this country," he said.
"We can manage the economy in the interests of working and middle class people."
The decision gives Australians about one week to enrol to vote or update their enrolments at the Australian Electoral Commission if they need to do so.
The Coalition goes into the campaign behind Labor in the opinion polls and the betting markets after two terms in office under Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Mr Morrison.
Labor has held a lead over the Coalition in the polls for more than two and a half years, and was this week ahead by 53 to 47 per cent in two-party terms.
SMH/ The Age
