Polls have opened around the country as the eight-week federal election campaign finally reaches its conclusion today.
Key points:
- Ballots to be cast at more than 7,000 polling places around Australia
- Opinion polls predict tight race between Coalition and Labor
- Mathias Cormann says Government taking "nothing for granted"
Australians will flock to more than 7,000 booths — but about 2.5 million people have already cast their ballots in pre-poll voting.
Both major party leaders started their days in Sydney, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull casting his vote at the Double Bay Public School in his seat of Wentworth.
Mr Turnbull and his wife Lucy were joined by a large media contingent as they met with voters and he repeated his call for voters to choose the Coalition and avoid a hung parliament.
"As I said there's never been a more exciting time to vote for a stable majority Coalition government, an economic plan that secures our future," he said.
"What's the biggest issue in the seat of Wentworth? Security of our economy, the future for our children and grandchildren."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will spend the morning campaigning in the key marginal seats of Reid, Lindsay and Macquarie in western Sydney before flying to Melbourne to cast his vote in his electorate of Maribyrnong.
Mr Shorten told ABC News Breakfast he was confident Labor could win.
"Labor is very competitive," he said.
"I know that some of the conservative political papers have run their drum beat and whatever happens, the Liberals will win.
"The fact of the matter is that Labor's agenda has been speaking to the daily lives and experiences of Australians."