Received

More than 300,000 Australians cast their ballot on the first day of pre-poll voting alone, as the federal election finish line draws closer.

Monday marked the beginning of pre-polling across the country, with 500 locations available to voters before election day on May 21.

Election officials have predicted this year's election will have the highest pre-poll vote, eclipsing the more than 30 per cent of voters who did so in 2019.

Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said he was not surprised by the large turnout on day one.

"We were expecting an increase in pre-poll and that's exactly what we're seeing at the moment," he told the Nine Network on Tuesday.

"But the more in envelopes through pre-poll and postal, the harder it will be to determine a result on the night."

There were long lines at a number of pre-polling locations across the country on Monday.

Meanwhile, the coalition government is pitching $5 million in spending on technology to create a "skills passport" to help employees get jobs.

The tool would store information about a worker's experience and education that can be presented to employers.

Employment Minister Stuart Robert said the coalition would partner with the Australian Technology Network of Universities to fast-track the rollout of the technology.

"Where there are skills gaps to fill, we want Australians to have the first crack at getting that opportunity and our skills passport approach will enable rapid upskilling and reskilling," he said.

"These investments will mean more skilled workers, lower unemployment, and a stronger future not just for apprentices and trainees, but for Australia."

Meanwhile, Labor is pledged to support the Suburban Rail Loop project in Victoria.

The network would connect every major rail line between the Frankston line and Werribee line in Melbourne via the airport.

Labor has committed to spending $2.2 billion on a section of the rail loop to build 26km of twin tunnels and six underground stations.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said federal Labor would partner with the Victorian state government on the project.

"I won't be a prime minister that uses infrastructure to play political games, I will be a prime minister who invests in the projects that matter," he said.

"This project will change how Melburnians live and how they interact with their city."

Mr Albanese will start day 30 of the election campaign in Melbourne, while Prime Minister Scott Morrison will begin the day in Sydney.

© AAP 2022

Queen Elizabeth will not carry out the opening of parliament as the 96-year-old monarch has had a recurrence of mobility issues, Buckingham Palace says, the latest event she will not attend because of her health.

Her son and heir Prince Charles, accompanied by his eldest son Prince William, will step in to replace her for the grand set-piece ceremony on Tuesday, in which the monarch sets out the government's agenda, the palace said.

She last missed the event almost six decades ago.

"The queen continues to experience episodic mobility problems, and in consultation with her doctors has reluctantly decided that she will not attend the State Opening of Parliament tomorrow," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

"At Her Majesty's request, and with the agreement of the relevant authorities, The Prince of Wales will read the queen's speech on Her Majesty's behalf, with The Duke of Cambridge also in attendance."

The Queen, the world's eldest and longest-reigning monarch, has been forced to cut back on engagements since being hospitalised for a night last October for an unspecified illness, and then being told by her doctors to rest.

The palace declined to give details of the Queen's ailment but a source said her decision to pull out of the opening of parliament, which was only made on Monday, was related to the problems she had suffered last year.

The Press Association reported that the Queen is understood to have a busy diary at Windsor this week with a call with Australia undertaken on Monday and a planned virtual Privy Council and phone audience with the prime minister on Wednesday.

She is expected to undertake some private engagements later in the week.

While Elizabeth has continued to carry out many of her duties virtually or in person at her Windsor Castle home, her first public event since falling ill was in April, when she attended a memorial service to her late husband who died last year.

Last week it was announced she would not attend the traditional summer garden parties at Buckingham Palace but the palace source said she would have her regular audiences with the Privy Council and Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday, virtually and by phone.

"The prime minister fully respects the wishes of Her Majesty and is grateful to the Prince of Wales for agreeing to deliver the speech on her behalf," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

The State Opening of Parliament is an event of huge pomp and pageantry in which the Queen traditionally traves to the assembly in a State Coach, escorted by mounted soldiers in ceremonial uniform while the Imperial State Crown and other regalia travel ahead in a carriage of their own.

The monarch puts on the Robe of State before leading a procession to the House of Lords upper chamber where she sits on a throne and formally opens a new session of parliament, reading a speech outlining the government's legislative plans.

She has missed the occasion twice during her 70-year reign - in 1959, and 1963, when she was pregnant with sons Andrew and Edward.

Prince Charles has attended the opening before but it is the first time that William, also destined to be a future king, will be officially involved.

To authorise Charles and William to carry out the role on her behalf, the Queen had to issue a "Letters Patent".

The palace source said no other functions had been delegated by Elizabeth.

The United Kingdom will hold four days of celebration in June to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Buckingham Palace said last week she was planning to attend most major events during the celebrations but her presence would not be confirmed until on the day.

with reporting from PA

© RAW 2022

Scott Morrison has defended his performance in the second leaders' debate, following a shouty and feisty contest with Anthony Albanese.

The prime minister visited Sikorsky Australia's manufacturing site in Nowra, in the marginal NSW seat of Gilmore with Liberal hopeful and former NSW transport minister Andrew Constance.

Mr Morrison inspected a Seahawk helicopter, before speaking about the Nine Network's debate format, which he said led to the shouting match between himself and his opponent.

"The way the debate was set up made it difficult to hear in the room itself," he told reporters.

"It was a spirited debate. I think Australians expect spirited debate, and the last one was a bit more measured."

Later in the day, Mr Morrison and Mr Constance visited Nowra Golf Club to spruik the government's handling of the economy.

Speaking at the event, the prime minister pointed to the JobKeeper scheme and said the government had leaned on the resilience of communities as they came up with solutions to the pandemic.

"I don't see the solution in the government," he said.

Sunday night's debate was declared a draw, but both major parties sought to claim victory.

Speaking in Sydney on Monday while launching Labor's policy to boost the number of high-performance teachers, the opposition leader said Mr Morrison failed to bring anything to the table during the debate.

"Scott Morrison didn't have anything to say except shouting, he only had smears and that smirk throughout it all," Mr Albanese told reporters.

"I put forward ideas ... I ask you to think about what were the policy measures that Scott Morrison said he would do in his fourth term if he's elected. If he is given three more years, we can't afford three more years of the same."

Mr Albanese then travelled to Adelaide, where campaigned alongside Premier Peter Malinauskas, announcing a $400 million expansion of the Flinders Medical Centre.

The prime minister said he hoped the third and final debate, scheduled for Wednesday night on the Seven Network, would have more rules enforced.

However, Mr Morrison dismissed criticism he was dismissive of moderator, 60 Minutes reporter Sarah Abo, because she was a woman.

"I don't believe gender had anything to do with it," he said.

"Both Anthony and I think we're completely respectful."

Monday marked the start of pre-poll voting for the May 21 election at more than 500 locations across the country.

While large numbers of early voters are expected during pre-poll, Mr Morrison said he was not concerned that large numbers of people could already be voting against him.

"Right now today, people are turning up and voting at pre-poll, right across the country and they're making a choice," he said.

"People are making assessments and so many, as we are seeing, are still to make a decision."

While a hung parliament remains a possibility, Mr Albanese said Labor was looking to govern in its own right.

"I will be working every day for 76 (lower house seats)," he said.

"We should have 150 Labor members in the House of Representatives, that is my starting point. I think we will fall short of that, but my objective is 76."

It comes as two new opinion polls showed Labor growing its lead over the coalition as the campaign enters its final fortnight.

Despite not being able to guarantee a lift to real wages at Sunday's debate, Mr Albanese said he remained confident about working alongside businesses and unions to improve working conditions.

"The truth is we have had flatlining wages over 10 years. The key to lifting wages is lifting productivity," he said.

"Our clear objective is to lift up living standards ... (the prime minister) couldn't even say that Australian workers should be paid the minimum wage."

Mr Morrison hit back, saying the best way to make wages increase was to lower the unemployment rate.

"Businesses can make wages go up. When businesses are doing well and when unemployment is going down, then wages go up," he said.

"What makes wages go up is a strong economy where businesses are doing well and they can ensure that they can pay staff even better and above award rates."

© AAP 2022