Scott Morrison has tried to brush off an altercation with an angry disability support pensioner at a Newcastle pub, with the election set to be called within days.
The man yelled "listen to me for a change" as he accused Mr Morrison late on Wednesday night of failing to deliver on his election promises.
"This is what you said when you got elected last time: 'We're going help all those people that worked all their lives, paid their taxes'," the man said.
"I've had a go, mate. I've worked all my life and paid my taxes."
However, the prime minister sought to downplay the angry remarks, saying he had listened to the man respectfully.
"More broadly, it was a very welcome reception, of course there was one gentleman who was there last night who was very upset about what was a very complicated issue," he told reporters on the NSW Central Coast on Thursday.
"I was keen to understand what he was saying to me."
Labor MP Jason Clare said the voter interaction was a sign of growing frustration in the electorate.
"Quiet Australians aren't quiet anymore," he said.
"Australians are standing up and giving the prime minister a gobful."
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, who was campaigning in Perth, said it was important for people to engage politely.
"It is important in this country that we're able to have civil discourse and it's good here in Australia we can have our politicians get out and about," he said.
As speculation mounts on when Mr Morrison will call the election, the prime minister said it would be soon.
"The election will be called when I'm in a position to go to the governor-general," he said.
"It's almost three years ... from the last election. I said we would run a term, do the job, and go to the Australian people."
The prime minister has this week been caught up in a war of words with the Queensland government over a flood recovery package for the state.
Acting Premier Cameron Dick said the Commonwealth's refusal to jointly fund a new homes package was "the highest level of disrespect".
However, Mr Morrison later agreed to a 50-50 funding arrangement, despite maintaining it was something the state government should be doing.
"I'm not going to have people left in the lurch as a result of the Queensland state government playing politics on the eve of an election, trying to weaponise politically the flood experiences of Queenslanders," he said.
As the row over funding simmered, Emergency Management Minister Bridget McKenzie announced a review into national disaster recovery arrangements.
Senator McKenzie said it was critical to examine the current system for how money is distributed in the wake of a natural disaster.
Meanwhile, Mr Albanese said he was not concerned about lower house independents, ruling out doing a deal to form government in the event of a hung parliament.
"I'm campaigning for a majority Labor government, and I'm the only person running for prime minister this election who is saying I will seek to form government in my own right," he said.
"The agenda that we're putting forward at this election is the one we will implement, that is the proposition that we have."
United Australia Party leader Clive Palmer plans to spend $70 million on advertising during the campaign.
He told the National Press Club he would preference the major parties and the Greens last in the Senate, and support minor parties including the Greens ahead of Labor and the coalition in the lower house.
