Voters have had their first taste of a federal campaign focused on health, energy and cost-of-living pain.
Leaders of both the major parties enjoyed a cold beverage on their first full day on the election trail, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to a ginger beer distillery in Bundaberg aimed at spruiking a campaign to encourage shoppers to buy locally made products.
The $20 million Australian Made campaign, intended to support jobs and bolster economic resilience, lands on a backdrop of escalating global trade tensions fuelled by US President Donald Trump's tariff policies.
Mr Albanese began the day on familiar ground, promoting Labor's track record on health care.
Flanked by Health Minister Mark Butler, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Labor candidate for Dickson Ali France at a medical centre in Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's seat, Mr Albanese brandished a Medicare card and declared "this is what is at stake".
Labor has been hammering the opposition on health policy despite the Liberals trying to head off attacks by matching several big-ticket promises, including an $8.5 billion commitment to expand bulk billing.
Mr Butler urged voters to focus on Mr Dutton's track record, including an attempt to introduce a co-payment for GP visits while he was health minister.
"You've got a prime minister who's committed to lower taxes and a stronger Medicare, against an opposition leader who is going to deliver higher taxes and American health care where every single person pays to see the doctor," he said.
Mr Dutton's day-one focus was all about economics as he used a tour of XXXX brewery in Brisbane to talk up plans to halve the fuel excise and establish an east coast gas reservation to lower power prices.
"We can bring down the price of gas - not just for consumers but because it's a big part of business and manufacturing and the production of electricity as well," he said.
It's not clear how much households would save under the energy plan, with Mr Dutton failing to reveal modelling to back up his assertions.
"I'm going to leave it to other experts in the space to talk about their analysis of our plan but there is work that's been done by Frontier (Economics) and it does provide some indication," he said.
Greens leader Adam Bandt also selected Brisbane to kick off proceedings, confirming his priority was to keep Mr Dutton out of government.
"That's our goal this election - keep Peter Dutton out, get Labor to act with real action on the cost of living, housing and the climate and environment crisis," he said.
The Greens have been pushing hard for dental and mental health to be covered by Medicare.
The health minister was pressed to explain why dental care was not included in the universal health care system, describing it as a pragmatic decision by former Labor leader Bob Hawke when up against hostile dental groups and political opposition.
Labor remains committed to eventually including dental care in Medicare but Mr Butler said bolstering bulk billing was the priority for now.
Labor holds 78 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives and would lose majority government if it had a net loss of three seats.
The coalition will be looking to boost its fortunes from the 57 electorates it holds to reach the required majority of 76.
The Greens are also looking to build on their 2022 electoral success, when they won four seats in the lower house.
