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The Liberals and Labor have traded barbs over industrial relations policy ahead of the first leaders' debate.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor Leader Anthony Albanese will face off for the first time this election when they meet in Brisbane on Wednesday night and take questions from undecided voters.

While Mr Morrison used the morning to target the ultra-marginal seat of Boothby in Adelaide, Attorney-General Michaelia Cash was doing the morning media rounds to spruik the coalition's crackdown on construction unions.

The government will double the penalties courts can impose on construction unions, should it win office.

Penalties for serious offences such as unlawful industrial action, freedom of association or coercion will be increased to $88,000 for an individual and $444,000 for a union.

Senator Cash said the changes to the building and construction industry act would try to stamp out "bullying and intimidation" by the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union.

"We are going to ensure that their behaviour, their unlawful behaviour on construction sites in Australia, they are held to account," she told the Nine Network.

"The current penalties they merely see as the cost of doing business. That is unacceptable. We need to ensure our construction industry in Australia is as productive as it can be."

Meanwhile, Labor upped the attack on the coalition on working conditions, arguing a re-elected Morrison government would bring back controversial workplace laws.

Touring logistics and freight company Toll's Brisbane facility, Mr Albanese says the drag on wages - which would be exacerbated by the laws - is having a direct impact on the economy.

"The dampening down of wages has not only had a dire impact on people struggling to make ends meet ... it's had a devastating impact on our national economy," he said.

"The Reserve Bank of Australia says so. They're desperate to see wages increase, and yet for this government, they don't have a plan for anything except further cuts in wages."

Opposition industrial relations spokesman Tony Burke said the government would scrap the better off overall test for workplace agreements and the changes would result in a $14,000 a year pay cut for part-time disability care workers.

"This is legislation that says your ordinary hourly rate, that can stay the same, but every penalty rate, every shift allowance, every loading, overtime rate, up for grabs," he said.

Labor also took aim at the government's handling of national security after the Solomon Islands inked a security deal with China.

Mr Albanese called the development a "serious foreign policy failure".

"Australia needs to do more than step up with the slogan in the Pacific, it needs to step up with real engagement, deep engagement, with our Pacific island neighbours."

The prime minister says Australia is well aware of the risks posed in the Indo-Pacific and the situation would have been much worse without the actions taken by the government to date.

"What we have seen now highlights those risks - you cannot always prevent them in all circumstances," Mr Morrison told Adelaide radio station 5AA.

"The sort of pressure and influence seeking to be exerted in our region is very real."

Mr Morrison says the government continues to focus on national security as he announced $50 million in funding for the University of Adelaide to create 1000 new jobs and develop 100 new defence products over the next four years.

"We are focusing on the defence industry and making sure there are the great partnerships getting those high-end skills that are needed to see the defence industry grow and prosper here in SA," he said.

Meanwhile, the West Australian reports Labor will officially launch its election campaign in Perth on May 1.

It will be the first time a federal campaign has been launched in WA by any party.

© AAP 2022

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Actor Johnny Depp has testified that he never struck his ex-wife Amber Heard and is challenging her accusations in a $US50 million ($A68 million) defamation case in part to protect his children from false information about his behaviour.

Speaking softly and slowly, Depp said in a Virginia courtroom that it was a "complete shock" about six years ago when Heard "made some quite heinous and disturbing" allegations that he became violent during their relationship.

"Never did I myself reach the point of striking Ms Heard in any way, nor have I ever struck any woman in my life," said Depp, who wore a dark suit with his hair in a ponytail.

"I felt it my responsibility to stand up not only for myself in that instance but stand up for my children," the Pirates of the Caribbean star said.

His two children from a previous relationship were in high school at the time, he said.

"It's very strange when one day you're Cinderella so to speak, and then in 0.6 seconds you're Quasimodo," Depp added.

"I didn't deserve that, nor did my children, nor did the people who believed in me for all these years," he added.

Depp, 58, alleges Heard, 35, defamed him when she penned a December 2018 opinion piece in the Washington Post about being a survivor of domestic abuse.

He filed a $US50 million lawsuit against Heard in 2018.

The article never mentioned Depp by name but Depp lawyer Benjamin Chew told jurors a week ago that it was clear Heard was referencing the Hollywood leading man.

Lawyers for Heard have argued she told the truth and that her opinion was protected as free speech under the US constitution's first amendment.

A state court judge in Fairfax County, Virginia, is overseeing the trial, which is in its second week and is expected to last for six weeks.

Witnesses called by Depp's lawyers have included friends of the actor and a doctor and a nurse who said they treated him for substance abuse.

The witnesses testified that they were aware of arguments between the couple but had not witnessed physical abuse by Depp toward Heard.

Less than two years ago, Depp lost a libel case against The Sun, a British tabloid that labelled him a "wife beater".

A London High Court judge ruled he had repeatedly assaulted Heard and put her in fear for her life.

In the US case, Depp and Heard both submitted long lists of potential witnesses they could put on the stand.

Heard's list includes her ex-boyfriend and Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, with whom she texted about Depp.

Also on the list of potential witnesses is actor James Franco.

The Washington Post is not a defendant in the case.

Depp's lawyers have said they filed the case in Fairfax County, outside the District of Columbia, because the newspaper is printed at a facility there.

The United States is a difficult forum for libel plaintiffs, especially public figures like Depp, who must prove by clear and convincing evidence that Heard knowingly made false claims.

Depp and Heard met while making 2011 film The Rum Diary and married four years later.

Heard accused Depp of domestic abuse after filing for divorce in 2016.

Heard, known for roles in Aquaman and Justice League, has brought her own libel claim against Depp, saying he smeared her by calling her a liar.

Heard's counterclaim will be decided as part of the trial.

Heard is seeking $US100 million in damages from Depp, according to court papers.

Following the November 2020 ruling in the London libel trial, Depp was replaced with Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen in the third film in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, a spin-off from the Harry Potter books and films.

© RAW 2022

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Actor Johnny Depp has testified hat he never struck his ex-wife Amber Heard and was challenging her accusations in a $US50 million ($A68 million) defamation case to correct the public's perception and stand up for his children.

Speaking softly and slowly for nearly three hours on Tuesday, Depp said in a Virginia courtroom that it was a "complete shock" about six years ago when Heard "made some quite heinous and disturbing" allegations that he became violent during their relationship.

"Never did I myself reach the point of striking Ms. Heard in any way, nor have I ever struck any woman in my life," said Depp, who wore a dark suit with his hair in a ponytail.

"I felt it my responsibility to stand up not only for myself in that instance but stand up for my children," the star said. His two children from a previous relationship were in high school at the time.

"It's very strange when one day you're Cinderella so to speak, and then in 0.6 seconds you're Quasimodo," added Depp, who is expected to return to the witness stand on Wednesday.

Depp, 58, alleges Heard, 35, defamed him when she penned a December 2018 opinion piece in the Washington Post about being a survivor of domestic abuse. He filed a $US50 million ($A68 million) lawsuit against Heard in 2018.

The article never mentioned Depp by name, but Depp lawyer Benjamin Chew told jurors it was clear Heard was referencing the Hollywood leading man.

Lawyers for Heard have argued she told the truth and that her opinion was protected as free speech under the US Constitution's First Amendment. In opening arguments, Heard's lawyers said Depp physically and sexually assaulted her while abusing drugs and alcohol.

A state court judge in Fairfax County, Virginia, is overseeing the trial, which is in its second week and is expected to last for six weeks.

On Tuesday, Depp's lawyers asked him about his movie career and his early interactions with Heard on the set of 2011 film The Rum Diary. Depp described her at that time as sweet, intelligent and funny.

The actor also detailed his parents' tumultuous relationship.

Depp said his parents frequently argued and his mother physically abused her children. Depp said his father never fought physically with his mother but punched a wall as many as three times, once breaking his hand. His father left the family when Depp was 15, the actor said.

By that time, Depp had "done all the drugs I was aware of," he said. He said he became addicted to opiates after he was injured on the set of the fourth Pirates Of The Caribbean film but recovered from that dependency.

Depp said Heard "grossly embellished" his substance use.

"A lot of it is just plainly false," he said.

"I think it was an easy target for her to hit."

Heard watched the testimony with little expression while Depp spoke, occasionally tilting her head or jotting notes.

Less than two years ago, Depp lost a libel case against The Sun, a British tabloid that labelled him a "wife beater".- A London High Court judge ruled he had repeatedly assaulted Heard and put her in fear for her life.

In the US case, Depp and Heard both submitted long lists of potential witnesses they may call, including Heard's ex-boyfriend and Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk and actor James Franco.

Depp's lawyers have said they filed the case in Fairfax County, outside the District of Columbia, because the Washington Post is printed at a facility there. The Washington Post is not a defendant in the case.

The United States is a difficult forum for libel plaintiffs, especially public figures like Depp, who must prove by clear and convincing evidence that Heard knowingly made false claims.

Heard, known for roles in Aquaman and Justice League, has brought her own libel claim against Depp, saying he smeared her by calling her a liar.

Heard's counterclaim, seeking $US100 million ($A135 million) in damages, will be decided as part of the trial.

© RAW 2022

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Actor Johnny Depp is expected to return to the witness stand in a $US50 million ($A67 million) defamation case he says he brought to expose the truth about his relationship with ex-wife and actress Amber Heard, who has accused him of abuse.

In three hours of testimony in a Virginia courtroom on Tuesday, Depp said he and Heard argued, but he never struck her.

He wanted to correct the record about his behaviour for himself and his children.

Speaking softly and slowly, Depp said it was a "complete shock" about six years ago when Heard "made some quite heinous and disturbing" allegations he became violent during their relationship.

"Never did I myself reach the point of striking Ms Heard in any way, nor have I ever struck any woman in my life," Depp said.

Depp's two children from a previous relationship were in high school at the time.

"Truth is the only thing I'm interested in," he said. "I'm obsessed with the truth."

Depp alleges Heard defamed him when she penned a December 2018 opinion piece in the Washington Post about being a survivor of domestic abuse.

He filed a $US50 million lawsuit against Heard in 2018.

The article never mentioned Depp by name, but his lawyer Benjamin Chew told jurors a week ago it was clear Heard was referencing the actor.

Attorneys for Heard have argued she told the truth and her opinion was protected as free speech under the US Constitution's First Amendment.

In opening arguments, Heard's laywers said Depp physically and sexually assaulted her while abusing drugs and alcohol.

A state court judge in Fairfax County, Virginia, is overseeing the trial, which is in its second week and is expected to last for six weeks.

Less than two years ago, Depp lost a libel case against The Sun, a British tabloid that labelled him a "wife beater".

A London High Court judge ruled he had repeatedly assaulted Heard and put her in fear for her life.

In the US case, Depp and Heard both submitted long lists of potential witnesses they may call, including Heard's ex-boyfriend and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and the actor James Franco.

Depp's lawyers have said they filed the case in Fairfax County, outside the District of Columbia, because the Washington Post is printed at a facility there. The Washington Post is not a defendant in the case.

The United States is a difficult forum for libel plaintiffs, especially public figures like Depp, who must prove by clear and convincing evidence Heard knowingly made false claims.

Heard, known for roles in Aquaman and Justice League, has brought her own libel claim against Depp, saying he smeared her by calling her a liar.

Heard's counterclaim, seeking $US100 million ($A135 million) in damages, will be decided as part of the trial.

© RAW 2022