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Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have gone head to head for the third and final time in a leaders' debate before polling day, trading barbs on wages growth and cost of living pressures.

The debate, hosted by Channel 7 on Wednesday night, was held with just nine days to go until the May 21 election and was notable for being more civil and less shouty than their previous encounter.

Mr Albanese said low wage workers, including cleaners and aged care employees were "heroes of the pandemic" and deserved "more than our thanks".

"I want a better future where we deal with the cost of living crisis where everything is going up except for people's wages," he said.

The opposition leader said a 5 per cent minimum wage increase amounted to "two cups of coffee a day".

Mr Morrison said he also backed a wage rise for all workers, but small businesses across the country would struggle with that increase in their wages bills "on top of all the other things they're facing".

"People won't be worrying about what their wages are, they will be worrying about whether they have a job," the prime minister said.

Mr Albanese highighted Labor's childcare policy costed at $5.4 billion, noting that was less than the government had wasted on the torn-up French submarine contract.

"This is the most wasteful government in Australia's history. Waste and reports is something that has characterised this government because it treats taxpayers' money like its Liberal Party money," he said.

Both leaders were asked about the shift towards independents and micro parties among voters, and what they thought was driving it.

Mr Albanese said there was a great deal of disillusionment with major parties, with people fed up with revolving doors of leadership and corrupt practices seen in recent times, highlighting the need for a national anti-corruption commission.

Mr Morrison said the last three years had been "incredibly tough", and that had affected people's views of politics but a vote for independents would be a vote to weaken parliament and weaken Australia.

Mr Morrison was asked to justify his criticism of his opponent when he labelled him the "most dangerous leader since Gough Whitlam".

He said Mr Albanese "has been very loose" on economic policy and "makes things up as he goes along".

In response, Mr Albanese slammed the prime minister over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters.

When asked what trait they admired in each other, Mr Morrison said it was Mr Albanese's rise from "humble beginnings" to become the leader of the Labor Party.

Mr Albanese said the prime minister was committed to the nation and had invested in mental health.

The results of a vote by people watching the debate across Australia was a win for Mr Albanese with 50 per cent supporting him while Mr Morrison claimed 34 per cent.

© AAP 2022

Tasmania's education department secretary has told a child sexual abuse inquiry of a "mosaic of approaches" that were used to investigate historical complaints against teachers.

A commission of inquiry, examining state government responses to allegations of abuse in the public service, has heard survivors' struggles being believed and of abusive teachers being moved schools.

The inquiry was on Wednesday told 32 state department education staff had been stood down in the past 12 to 18 months over "historical allegations".

"(They) had what I would describe as a matter of concern sitting against them. An allegation down to a curiosity or a concern," education department secretary Tim Bullard said.

Mr Bullard, who became secretary in early 2018, told the inquiry he looked into what investigations had been undertaken into the staff.

"It was a mosaic of approaches," he said.

"In one case there was a panel convened internally outside any process that was established in the state service - decision made not to proceed. In others, nothing had been done."

He said the department was "fettered" by the number of independent investigators available to probe allegations against teachers.

"We operate in a very small market when it comes to people who can undertake these investigations," he said.

"In terms of investigators we use, they've got a queue of investigations."

Rachel (a pseudonym) told the inquiry she was abused in the mid-2000s by a male teacher who was cleared of breaching the state service code of conduct following a two-year investigation.

She said the teacher groomed her, kissed her, rubbed her legs, showed her inappropriate footage and wrote a letter to her professing his love.

Rachel said she was left without support and was unable to tell the "men in suits" about the full extent of the abuse until a final meeting when she was told he had not breached the conduct code.

"I was absolutely mortified. Everything was on deaf ears," she said.

Rachel said early in the investigation education department staff told her mother she could be sued for defamation if she talked about the case.

"There was no context as to why. We were just stuck being quiet, muzzled, not saying anything. I didn't have the mental capacity as a child to know what was going on."

Mr Bullard told the inquiry that laws made it impossible for complainants to be provided updates on the progress of their complaint.

"I personally regret our past failings. I want to acknowledge the lasting and ongoing and negative impact that has had," he said.

"I am really sorry that historical abuse has occurred in our schools and I have to apologise unreservedly."

Rachel has post-traumatic stress disorder, and experiences nightmares and flashbacks.

"I will live with this forever. But if I can advocate for people who can't speak, that is such a great achievement," she said.

The inquiry was called in November 2020 following abuse allegations made against a nurse and other state service employees and will provide a report by May next year.

The state Liberal government has pledged to implement all recommendations.

© AAP 2022

World No.8 Callum Robson has continued his hot form to win the Gold Coast Pro surf event, but there was late heartbreak for Australian teenager Molly Picklum in the women's final.

Robson, who finished runner-up at Bells Beach last month, triumphed at Snapper Rocks on Wednesday after beating Sheldon Simkus in a hard-fought final.

The two surfers produced a series of stunning rides in the high-quality decider, and it was Robson (16.07) who came up trumps against Simkus (15.37).

Robson beat Jackson Baker, Ramzi Boukhiam, Nolan Rapoza, and Simkus on a hectic final day of competition for the second-tier Challenger Series event.

"I don't know how to feel. It was such a big day competing," said Robson, who took part despite already securing his card for the second half of the WSL Championship Tour campaign..

"My legs were cooked by the end. On one of the waves I fell at the end. It was such a big day. It was an epic comp."

Picklum endured disappointment earlier this month when she was a victim of the WSL's new mid-season cut.

The 19-year-old was was ranked 12th in the world after five events, with only the top 10 women progressing to the second half of the season.

Picklum shook off that setback to produce a series of strong showings at Snapper Rocks, with her victims including two-time world champion Tyler Wright.

But her hopes of winning Snapper Rocks were extinguished in the dying moments of the final against 16-year-old American Caitlin Simmers.

Simmers, who beat Sally Fitzgibbons in the semi-finals, needed a 5.45 to snatch the lead, and she set off on a wave with just 35 seconds remaining in the 30-minute final.

Both surfers reached the shore not knowing who had won, with the judges taking several minutes before awarding Simmers a score of 6.03.

Despite not coming away with the victory, the runner-up result has given Picklum's hopes of winning back her CT spot in 2023 a major boost.

"I kind of feel like I'm just getting going and just finding my feet," Picklum said.

"It's all part of the journey, but it feels like it's just getting started."

Australians Julian Wilson and Morgan Cibilic were surprise casualties in the round of 16.

© AAP 2022