Australians living in marginal seats can expect a barrage of attention from the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader, with Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese kicking off the first full day of the election campaign in seats they're hoping to flip.
Mr Morrison made a short trip from Canberra to Nowra on the New South Wales south coast, where the Liberals are hoping their star candidate — former state transport minister Andrew Constance — can pick up the seat of Gilmore from the Labor Party.
The ALP is eyeing northern Tasmania, with Mr Albanese travelling to Launceston and expected to campaign in the seats of Bass and Braddon.
The route to electoral victory lies in marginal seats and with a six-week campaign just starting, voters in those highly-contested seats can expect multiple visits from the two men vying to lead the nation.
Mr Morrison has acknowledged the campaign may be a trying time for some Australians.
"I get it, that people are tired of politics as we go into this election," Mr Morrison said after visiting the Governor-General on Sunday to recommend a May 21 poll.
"But this election and this campaign is incredibly important because there's so much at stake for Australia and our future."
He rejected suggestions that voters were tired of him, more than politics.
"Well, it has been a tough few years. People have been getting through the pandemic," he told the ABC.
'People tired of politicians'
The seat of Bass, which covers Launceston and north-eastern Tasmania, is the Liberal's most marginal electorate, held by Bridget Archer by just 0.4 per cent.
Anthony Albanese has already visited Bass four times since the end of parliament last year, and Scott Morrison twice in the same period.
Professor Ariadne Vromen, a leading scholar of politics and public administration at the Australian National University, warned many voters would not be receptive to political pitches.
"People are tired and… not entirely feeling warm about politicians in general," she said.
"So, it is going to be a hard election campaign to try to capture people's attention."
PM targets NSW seat of Gilmore
In Gilmore, Mr Morrison is promising $40 million of road upgrades for a region affected by the Black Summer bushfires and an influx of visitors and new residents.
He credits Andrew Constance with convincing him to commit to the upgrades.
"His advocacy has ensured this $40 million investment will be delivered if our government is re-elected."
Labor MP Fiona Phillips wrestled the seat from the Liberals at the last election and holds it with a small margin of 2.6 per cent.
But Mr Constance hopes his prior job as a state MP will see voters switch their support to him.
"Local communities across our region know that I'll always go into bat for them – that's my track record as a State Member and what I want to keep delivering for Gilmore," he said.
Mr Albanese will announce $2.5 million for new support centres for children with communication difficulties and hearing impairments in Launceston and Hobart.
