And that's it for the day. Let's look back on what happened:
- Labor woke up to the news it has fallen further behind the Coalition in the polls;
- but leader Kevin Rudd put on a brave face declaring the campaign was still in its "second quarter";
- Mr Rudd went on to announced a $50 million program to help people who have suffered strokes and $20 million for an active ageing program;
- Coalition leader Tony Abbott announced $100 million to stop the illegal importation of guns;
- Mr Abbott defended his paid parental leave scheme from accusations that it is unfair, too expensive and lacking in detail when it comes to the costings; and
- Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott will appear on the same stage at a community forum in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
Thanks, as always, to you for reading and participating and to Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen for their pictorial wizardry.
See you in the morning.
Mr Rudd does not take any questions but says he needs coaching to improve his bowling technique.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the Condong Bowling Club in Tweed Heads, NSW, on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Mr Rudd is holding a press conference in "god's own country", Tweed Heads in NSW.
Mr Rudd is announcing a $20 million "active ageing" program, a series of grants for community organisations and local governments to help "healthy ageing" (the quotes are from the Labor press release).
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visits the Condong Bowling Club in Tweed Heads, NSW, on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares
I love to have a beer with Kevin, love to have a beer with Kev.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the Condong Bowling Club in Tweed Heads, NSW, on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares
This week's version of the debate-about-the-debate is guessing when and where the major parties will have their campaign launches.
Where tells you a lot about the city that party wants to focus on; when is more a matter of scheduling and money since the parties foot the bill for the cost of the campaigns once the launches have taken place (which is why they like to delay them as long as possible).
The Age's national affairs editor, Tony Wright, has looked back on today's campaign events, broken down bus and all, should you be casting around for something to read with your afternoon coffee.
The grid, the grid!
All the fabulous campaign work done by Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen in one place. Here.
Immigration policy burst back into the election campaign late last week when the Coalition announced its policy for the processing of people who have already arrived in Australia by boat.
Now, the first boat carrying more than 200 people to arrive since June has been intercepted giving the Coalition another chance to attack Labor over its immigration policies.
There has been a lot of talk today about Labor's decision to go negative in its latest campaign ads, a tactic it defends as valid because the ads are "policy based".
In this video interview political strategists Jannette Cotterell and Greg Holland look at how the parties' tactics are going as we approach the mid point of the campaign.
Campaign goes into negative gear
Fresh polls point to a Coalition landslide as the government goes on the attack with bold new ads. Strategists Jannette Cotterell and Greg Holland dissect the political play.
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Team Rudd is making its way to Tweed Heads, right at the top of the NSW north coast, where they have been told "flat shoes only" will be allowed at an event with Kevin Rudd at the Condong Bowling Club.
I"ll bring you details of that event when it happens (probably in about half an hour's time).
Team Abbott has pulled up stumps for the day.
In case, like me, you were unable to watch Coalition communications' spokesman Malcolm Turnbull's Google Hangout earlier today you can now read an "edited highlights" package here.
Naturally, Mr Turnbull was asked whether he nursed lingering ambitions of being prime minister.
Mr Turnbull demurred and said although he "wouldn't disown" any such dreams he rated the likelihood of anything happening as "unlikely".
"I think [Liberal National Party MP] Wyatt Roy is a better chance of being prime minister than me because he's got a lot longer," Mr Turnbull said.
You can almost see the foot tapping, can't you?
Team Abbott in discussion at the bottom of the stairs as an AFP officer keeps watch in Liverpool, NSW, on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Having spent nearly the first 10 days of the campaign reminding people about enrolling to vote I will now turn my attention to pointing out that you can vote as early as tomorrow.
If you will be overseas, out of town, getting married, in hospital or something else on September 7 pre-poll voting stations will be open from tomorrow.
Regular readers will know I'm intrigued by long serving Liberal MP Philip Ruddock's job as minder/adviser/soother to Coalition leader Tony Abbott throughout the campaign.
Kevin Rudd has also acquired a soothing presence on the campaign trail in the form of South Australian minister Mark Butler. (You can see him below in pole position outside the gents' at Mr Rudd's press conference in Lismore earlier today.)
But Mr Butler's secondment may have more to do with stories that the Labor campaign has become a disjointed affair with headquarters and Team Rudd on different wavelengths. You can read about those assertions here.
Labor minister Mark Butler listens to Kevin Rudd as he talks in Lismore, NSW, on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Don't worry about the polls Kevin, they're dreamt up by a pack of wombats.
'Them polls are a bunch of wombats!'
RAW VISION: On the campaign trail, a local expresses his confidence in the Prime Minister and tells him not to worry about bad polls numbers.
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Our policy issue for the week is climate change.
Doesn't 2007, when it was the big policy challenge, seem like a long time ago? Now it is discussed largely in economic, rather than environmental, terms.
The Sydney Morning Herald's environment editor, Ben Cubby, and his counterpart at The Age, Tom Arup, have looked at what the parties are offering on this front.
While researching that piece Ben and Tom discovered that about $4 billion in private funding for solar power and other renewable energy industries would be funnelled away to other areas if the Coalition came to office. How so? Click here to find out.
Economics correspondent Peter Martin has also investigated Labor's claim that the Coalition's direct action plan has blown another hole in its costings in today's Fact Checker segment.
A poll lead is one thing but referring to Labor as the "former government", as Coalition leader Tony Abbott did in Liverpool, Sydney, a short time ago, is quite another.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott walks the streets of Liverpool, NSW, on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
In my 11.21am post I pointed you in the direction of a story discussing the likelihood of Pauline Hanson's return to the Senate.
In this video the author of that story, Tim Colebatch, and chief political correspondent, Mark Kenny, discuss what the distribution of preference flows might mean for the composition of the Senate.
Upper house shake-up?
Mark Kenny and Tim Colebatch discuss Labor's polling woes, and the prospect of preference flows bringing some fresh, colourful faces into the Senate.
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Since I was not with you at the weekend to bring you all the magical images captured by Alex Ellinghausen and Andrew Meares you might like to look back at the weekend's photo gallery.
I now have the video available for you of this morning's Breaking Politics segment in which Labor MP Andrew Leigh and Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer discuss polling, negativity and which of the major parties can claim to be the underdog.
Labor on the back foot
Labor's Andrew Leigh and Liberal Kelly O'Dwyer go head-to-head over poor polling and relentless negativity, with both parties claiming the mantle of forward-looking underdog.
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Meanwhile, back on the Coalition's paid parental leave scheme, leader Tony Abbott has revealed he is yet to speak to the states about how the shared funding plan would work.
Labor says the policy's costings have "more holes than Swiss cheese" while a large and generally very pro Coalition business group, the Business Council of Australia, wants the levy the Coalition would impose on big companies to pay for the scheme dropped.
For an update on how the policy is being received you can click here.
Hai hai.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott walks the streets of Liverpool, NSW, on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Back to Liberal candidate Fiona Scott (whose exposure thanks to Coalition leader Tony Abbott's "sex appeal" comment is starting to make me think it was a deliberate strategy rather than a gaffe) is running against Labor front bencher David Bradbury for the Sydney seat of Lindsay.
Mr Bradbury rather mournfully announced earlier today that his new campaign slogan is: "He ain't pretty but he's pretty effective."
Boom tish.
You can read about the latest exchange between Mr Abbott and Ms Scott here.
Mr Rudd has finished his press conference.
Meanwhile, Mr Abbott has done his first "street walk" of the campaign in Liverpool, Sydney. Street walks are an unscripted affair where the politician wanders around a public place meeting real people taking the compliments with the insults. Judging by the pictures it seems to be going pretty well.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott walks the streets of Liverpool, NSW, on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Rudd is asked why Labor's recent ads are negative and why Labor is going backwards in the polls.
"I make no apology whatsoever for the ads we have on air at the moment because they are policy based," Mr Rudd says.
"[Mr Abbott] has a strategy of turning himself into a tiny target...I'm not about to be silent when I see good people like this have their jobs cut because Mr Abbott's political strategy says to stay mum....The Australian people in this democracy deserve to have a clear choice. Right now they have a guy wrapping himself into a tiny ball."
On the polls: "I'm a fighter, I will continue to fight and I will continue to fight for Australian families....We will fight this to the conclusion of the campaign."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd talks to staff at Medicare Local in Lismore, NSW, on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares
(I apologise for the somewhat truncated coverage of Mr Rudd's press conference. The feed is poor and keeps dropping out.)
Mr Rudd is asked why Labor voters should vote - again - for MP Janelle Saffin when some of the issues she cares about such as raising the dole, the treatment of asylum seekers and live animal exports are not reflected in Labor policy.
"I have never met somebody who is more had working in my life. She makes me feel like a slouch," Mr Rudd says.
"We're a broad church....I'm not about to stamp out any views local members might have."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd enters a press conference in Lismore, NSW, on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares
"This is an NBN [National Broadband Network] related health service," Mr Rudd says.
This will give a doctor in a rural or regional hospital who might not be confident with diagnosing strokes instant access to an expert in Melbourne who will help.
Mr Rudd says Labor is about building up local health services while the Coalition wants to cut them.
Mr Rudd is announcing an extra $50 million for Medicare Local to fund a network of stroke care coordinators.
"23 people will die today from a stroke," Mr Rudd says.
"This is a big medical challenge for a great Australian family."
The coordinators' job will be to work out an individual care plan for each person who leaves hospital after having a stroke.
Labor leader Kevin Rudd is speaking in Lismore, northern NSW.
He is joined by the local Labor member, Janelle Saffin, who he says he has known "since Adam was a boy".
On the way in Mr Rudd was greeted by supporter Glenn Thomas Clarke who said not to worry about the polls because they are prepared by "wombats".
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was embraced by supporter Glenn Thomas Clarke in Lismore on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Only another three weeks before fences everywhere are once again safe from the scourge that is is political paraphernalia.
Meanwhile, our google hang out with Coalition communications' spokesman Malcolm Turnbull is underway. Feel free to join in here.
The view from the campaign window in Fairfield, Sydney, on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
I completely missed this announcement at the weekend - my apologies if you did too and were wondering what the latest news was on the debate front.
Labor leader Kevin Rudd has agreed to a "community forum" with Coalition leader Tony Abbott in Brisbane on Wednesday night. This is despite saying last week that he was not keen on a forum hosted by Sky News (because it is a pay television channel which not everyone has access to).
The two leaders will take questions from an audience of 100 swinging voters and the event will be moderated by Sky News political editor, David Speers (who also moderated the debate earlier on in the campaign).
Ruddy hair.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visits a Medicare office in Lismore, NSW, on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Don't forget our google hang out with the Coalition's communications' spokesman, Malcolm Turnbull, begins in a little over half an hour (12.30pm).
On the road again.....Team Rudd heads for Lismore, in northern NSW, where Kevin Rudd is expected to campaign on health services shortly.
On the way to cover Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visit to Lismore, NSW on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Pauline Hanson has been keeping a low profile during the campaign. Ms Hanson has her hat tilted at a NSW Senate seat. That ambition may yet be realised because Ms Hanson has won high preferences from a number of smaller right wing parties.
The Age's economics editor, Tim Colebatch, has looked at how preference distribution may propel Ms Hanson back into Parliament.
Both Mr Rudd and Mr Abbott have been employing the tactic in press conferences of making sure everyone gets to ask one question before going back to another reporter.
Fairness or a way of dodging follow ups if a reporter wants to know more?
Opposition leader Tony Abbott with Liberal candidate Fiona Scott at St Marys police station in western Sydney on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Abbott is asked about the cost of the Coalition's paid parental leave scheme (which was released yesterday without the accompanying costing documents).
Mr Abbott says they will be released in good time but assures people the $5.5 billion a year scheme is "sustainable".
Opposition leader Tony Abbott with Liberal candidate Fiona Scott visit the St Marys police station in western Sydney on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
For this particular campaign outing Mr Abbott is accompanied by NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, Coalition justice spokesman Michael Keenan and the local candidate Fiona Scott.
Ms Scott is asked a question by the media about the economy of western Sydney.
Mr Abbott answers the question first then puts his arm around Ms Scott as he introduces her.
Ms Scott speaks and then Mr Abbott says: "Obviously from that answer she ain't just a pretty face."
Opposition leader Tony Abbott with Liberal candidate Fiona Scott visit St Marys police station in Sydney on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Abbott is asked about Labor's negative ad campaign.
"The lower the politics the better they are at it," Mr Abbott says.
Coalition leader Tony Abbott is in St Marys, western Sydney, where he is talking about gun control.
Mr Abbott promised a Coalition government would commit an extra $100 million to Customs because Labor has not only failed to "stop the boats but stop the guns".
Mr Abbott says people found guilty of the illegal importation of guns would get a mandatory minimum five year sentence and that he would work with the states and territories to form "local gang squads".
Opposition leader Tony Abbott visits the St Marys police station in western Sydney on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
You know those days when you need a police guard to keep you away from the empty calories of the vending machine?
Opposition leader Tony Abbott visits St Marys Police Station in western Sydney on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
In two hours time (12.30pm) Fairfax Media will be hosting a Google hang out with the Coalition's communications spokesman, Malcolm Turnbull.
You can find the link to the event here and you can submit questions ahead of time using #turnbullhangout.
The Coalition's scheme would pay new mothers their replacement salary for six months while Labor's version pays women the minimum wage for 18 weeks.
The Coalition would also pay women's superannuation entitlements while Labor does not.
The Coalition claims its scheme would leave the average working women $21,000 better off. That's a princely sum. But does it stack up?
Economics correspondent Peter Martin takes a look in this instalment of Fact Checker.
As you are probably aware, yesterday saw the release of what will probably be one of the biggest spending - if not biggest - commitments of the campaign, the Coalition's paid parental leave scheme.
In these fiscally challenging times promises with billion dollar figures attached to them are few and far between.
But the Coalition stands by its $5.5 billion a year scheme which it says will start in 2015 should it win office.
You can read about the scheme here.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott and Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer meet with Amelia Taylor and 5 month old Thomas in Malvern, Victoria. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Abbott was in Bennelong to give his blessing to the campaign bus of Liberal MP John Alexander.
Good to see Mr Alexander is going for subtlety.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott with Liberal MP John Alexander's campaign van in North Ryde, Sydney, on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. It's an age old adage in politics.
Labor's candidate for the Sydney seat of Bennelong, Jason Yat-Sen Li, checked out Coalition leader Tony Abbott's address to an event on his turf earlier this morning.
Labor candidate Jason Yat-sen Li listens as Coalition leader Tony Abbott addresses the NSW Business Chamber in North Ryde, Sydney, on Monday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Over the weekend Labor did not so much flick the switch to vaudeville as flick it to negative with ads targeting Coalition leader Tony Abbott with the line "if he wins, you loses".
Labor leader Kevin Rudd has defended the ads as "returning fire back on policy facts". You can read about the ads here (although you probably saw at least one over the weekend).
Back in June, after reclaiming the prime ministership from Julia Gillard, Mr Rudd made a big deal about wanting to end what he called old fashioned negative politics. But that idea seems to have fallen by the wayside now that Labor is on the ropes.
What do you think? Will Labor's negative ads be a winner with voters? Have your say in a our readers' poll which you can find here.
Mr Rudd might not be phased by the polls but it was an unfortunate time for the bus carrying the media covering his campaign to break down.
However, the fan belt that caused the problem was quickly fixed and the bus continued on its way to the airport where Team Rudd is due to fly to Lismore in northern New South Wales.
It being Monday our relay team of reporters travelling with the leaders has passed the baton. Today Bianca Hall joins Team Rudd (her twitter handle is @_BiancaH).
Coalition leader Tony Abbott began the day in Sydney and it seems as if he is due to campaign in the western suburbs again. David Wroe has joined the media bus for Fairfax Media.
The media bus conveying Prime Minister Kevin Rudd breaks down on Monday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Kevin Rudd is taking the poll in his stride.
"I'm a fighter and there are many things worth fighting for in this election campaign," he told Channel Seven.
If the election campaign were an AFL game, Mr Rudd said, we would be "in the second quarter".
Coalition frontbencher, Christopher Pyne, says the Newspoll shows people are "looking at Kevin Rudd again and remembering why they didn't want him to continue as prime minister in 2010".
Not that the Coalition is taking its lead in the polls for granted.
"The next three weeks is a long way to go," Mr Pyne told Sky News earlier today. "We are going to work every single day to put out our positive plan for the future."
The only poll is the one on election day, right?
Of course, but that the ones that come out along the way can act as a bit of morale boost or hit depending on how your team fares.
This morning's Newspoll shows Labor has gone backwards against the Coalition on a two party preferred basis and is now on 46 per cent versus the Coalition's 54 per cent (the previous Newspoll had Labor at 48 per cent against the Coalition's 52 per cent).
Labor's primary vote has now slumped to 34 per cent while the Coalition is on 47 per cent. This is Labor's lowest primary vote in Newspoll since Mr Rudd took back the prime ministership from Julia Gillard in late June.
Hello and welcome to the first day of the third week of the federal election campaign. Labor starts with a broken bus and a less than sunny poll. Where will the day and week us? It's a pleasure to have your company as Andrew Meares, Alex Ellinghausen and I bring you all the news from the campaign trail.
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