The end of another day. I believe it was day 18. What happened?
- last night's community forum gave Labor leader Kevin Rudd a spring in his step (let's stop pretending anyone 'won');
- it was judged such a success that both Mr Rudd and Coalition leader Tony Abbott will participate in another forum next week;
- Mr Rudd spent the day in Victoria prosecuting his case against the Coalition's paid parental leave scheme;
- Mr Abbott spent the day in Sydney where he announced the Coalition's $340 million health policy; and
- Mr Abbott also announced that the Liberal Party will no longer accept donations from tobacco companies.
My thanks to everyone who has read, commented and participated in our live coverage of the campaign so far. It is really a lot of fun to bring it to you. I am so impressed by my co pilots Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen - not a single day off for either of them and still bringing us the best campaign images.
See you in the morning.
Both Team Rudd and Team Abbott have upped stumps for the day.
Right, so, we all know Labor wants the Coalition to release its policy costings quick smart while the Coalition says they will be released some time before the campaign ends.
A leading economist, Saul Eslake, has had a look at the figures the Coalition has released so far to estimate the gap between its spends and saves.
However, as Mr Eslake, the chief Australian economist for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, says, $30 billion is a "substantial sum" but less the half than the $70 billion figure that has been bandied about by Labor.
My hard hat is better than yours.
Kevin Rudd meets with workers at BAE Systems in Williamstown on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Kevin Rudd is serious when he says he wants to be the kind of prime minister who builds things.
Kevin Rudd tours BAE Systems in Williamstown on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares
It's a high vis vest and hard hat kind of day.
Kevin Rudd tours BAE Systems in Williamstown on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Coalition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Tony Abbott at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
I love it when Alex Ellinghausen groups his photographs.
This campaign has certainly got a well established rhythm - busy, busy, busy until a bit after lunch and then quiet.
In the meantime both leaders have called for an investigation into reports Syria's Assad regime used nerve gas in bombing civilian neighbourhoods in the country's ongoing conflict.
Kevin Rudd says the news of a chemical weapons massacre in Syria was "repugnant".
Opposition leader Tony Abbott at the Manly Women's Shelter in Sydney on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Enough with the kisses. Stop the kisses.
Here is the photo gallery for day 17 (yesterday) of the campaign.
Click for more photos
ELECTION 2013 - Day 17
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visited Metro North Medicare Local in Brisbane. Photo: Andrew Meares
More on the Palmer/Brough/Slipper/Hockey/Ashby story (see 1.14pm post).
Mr Brough has denied Mr Palmer's allegation that he asked for money for a campaign to destroy Peter Slipper.
I know you have been hanging out for this all day. Yes, that's right, the full video of last night's community forum is now available.
You can watch it here.
Second leaders' debate: in full
Watch the full Sky News People's Forum between Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott at the Broncos Leagues Club in Brisbane. Courtesy Sky News.
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It must be former prime ministers' day.
Earlier (10.52am post) it was John Howard's turn.
Now Bob Hawke is campaigning with Education Minister Bill Shorten.
Mr Hawke was asked if Mr Shorten was leadership material.
"He's got a good understanding of the whole legal framework of our society. He did a magnificent job in the union movement," Mr Hawke says.
"The answer is obviously yes. The truth is that Bill has had a longer experience in the Labor movement, the trade union movement."
Mr Hawke says time had given Mr Shorten more experience dealing with individuals so "that would mean, I think, that his relations with his colleagues will always be easy".
Coalition leader Tony Abbott has made it home (his Sydney seat of Warringah) for the first time in the campaign.
He visited the Manly Women's Shelter to donate $140,000 which he raised on this year's Pollie Pedal.
(Mr Abbott's team members also showed up. In lycra. Was that really necessary?)
Opposition leader Tony Abbott at the Manly Women's Shelter in Manly, Sydney, on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Can we all agree this is an acceptable political kiss?
Opposition leader Tony Abbott and his wife Margie in Manly, Sydney, on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
And in today's instalment of 'things-I-should-have-brought-you-earlier'.
Here is chief political correspondent Mark Kenny's comment piece about last night's community forum.
Before filing that story Mark also wrote his weekly column about Labor's decision to change the fringe benefit tax arrangement for cars.
The Age's political editor, Michael Gordon, writes about Labor's decision to send unaccompanied children to Manus Island as part of its new immigration resettlement policy.
Last but not least - is the WikiLeaks Party imploding? Julian Assange says no although the person who was his running mate on the party's Victorian Senate ticket quit yesterday saying the party was not quite as democratic as she originally thought.
A couple of tobacco related stories.
Breaking news reporter Daniel Hurst has filed this story about Coalition leader Tony Abbott's announcement that the Liberal Party will no longer accept donations from tobacco companies.
Chief political correspondent Mark Kenny writes that a re-elected Labor government would freeze out tobacco companies from the political process and phase out investment in cigarette firms by public sector superannuation funds.
Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer has claimed former Howard government minister and Liberal National Party candidate Mal Brough asked him for money to fund a campaign to destroy Peter Slipper's reputation.
Mr Palmer made the allegation at a press conference a short time ago where he said he needed to clear Coalition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey of any involvement in the affair.
Mr Palmer's statements follow contrasting claims about a discussion he had with Mr Bough and Mr Hockey at a meeting at Mr Palmer's Sunshine Coast resort.
You can read the latest episode in one of Australia's tawdrier political sagas here.
Mr Brough has previously denied the claim but has been approached again for comment.
At about this time yesterday Labor's money ministers, Treasurer Chris Bowen and Finance Minister Penny Wong, were spruiking a new campaign website which they said was "a snapshot of the cuts we know Tony Abbott plans to make should he be elected".
Such a big claim was enough to interest economics correspondent Peter Martin who has devoted today's Fact Checker segment to it. You can read his findings here.
Or watch him explain them in a video interview below.
Labor's attack web site
Labor launches a web site targeting Tony Abbott , but does its claims stand up to Peter Martin's scrutiny?
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I've spoken to Alex Ellinghausen - he says there were not one but two kisses.
So at just over half way through the campaign Mr Abbott gets this kissing business under control. With a nun. On the lips.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott farewells Sister Jacinta Fong after his visit to St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Abbott has concluded his press conference.
Let me summarise the main points of the Coalition's health policy:
- greater community involvement in the management of local hospitals;
- give the health minister the power to list medicines recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Commission that do not cost more than $20 million;
- speed up the start of the national cancer bowel screening program;
- a new national strategy for diabetes and $35 million to find a cure for type one diabetes;
- restore the private health insurance rebate as soon as possible;
- activity based funding for hospitals;
- $171.5 million to expand GP training and teaching places;
- an additional 500 nursing and allied health scholarships plus $40 million for medical internships; and
- review Medicare Local.
The total cost of all this can be found in one line one page 17 of the policy document - it's $340 million over the forward estimates (that's the sum total of the detail).
Mr Abbott says he will refund the "modest amount" in donations the Liberal Party has received from tobacco companies when Labor refunds donations from the Health Services Union.
Coalition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Tony Abbott at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Abbott has directed the Liberal Party to no longer accept donations from tobacco companies.
"The party will from this time forward no longer take money from tobacco companies," Mr Abbott says.
He calls on Kevin Rudd to refund the cost of travel he received from a German tobacco company last year.
Coalition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Abbott says no medical practitioner will lose their job under a Coalition government.
He then turns Mr Rudd's accusations of cuts back on him.
"This government has cut private health insurance, it has cut private health insurance," Mr Abbott says.
Mr Abbott says he wants to restore the private health insurance rebate "as quickly as I can" but cannot give a commitment as to when that would be financially possible.
But, he says, a Coalition government supports private health insurance "in the marrow of our bones".
Coalition communications' spokesman Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
The Coalition's health spokesman, Peter Dutton, says part of the health policy is to "make it easier for mums and dads to get in to see their GP".
A Coalition government would provide $200 incentive payments to general practitioners who take on young doctors to help train them in that area, Mr Dutton announces.
The Coalition would provide an extra $340 million over the forward estimates to improve the health system.
Mr Abbott is speaking about the Coalition's health policy.
"What we intend to do is to maintain existing levels of health funding....but redirect some of that funding from bureaucracy to frontline services," Mr Abbott says. "Essentially what we want to do with our health system is make a good system better."
Mr Abbott rejects Mr Rudd's claim that he would cut health funding as a "lie".
The Coalition's communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Tony Abbott at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney on Thursday.
Coalition leader Tony Abbott's press conference has begun.
He is beginning with a ringing endorsement for cardiologist Michael Feneley, who is running for the Liberal Party in the Labor held seat of Kingsford Smith.
"I know he will be an adornment to the Parliament should he be elected," Mr Abbott says before running through other Liberal candidates with a medical flavour including the former president of the Australian Medical Association, Bill Glasson, who is standing against Kevin Rudd in the Brisbane seat of Griffith.
Wow - life on the campaign trail really is a fish bowl.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during a press conference in a cafe in Torquay, Victoria on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares
No cupcake for me thanks.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott declines a cupcake during his visit to St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Rudd has finished his visit to Torquay where he announced a free service to help small business reduce red tape.
Meanwhile, Coalition leader Tony Abbott is visiting St Vincents Hospital in Sydney with local member Malcolm Turnbull. He will hold a press conference shortly.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott greets communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull during his visit to St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Rudd confirms he will appear at next Wednesday night's community forum at Rooty Hill in Sydney (Coalition leader Tony Abbott had already committed).
"I think the Australian people want to see their leaders debate each other," Mr Rudd says.
You may or may not be aware that the make up artist employed to do the make up for Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott at last night's forum said Mr Rudd's behaviour was less than gallant.
The person in question made the remarks on her Facebook page but has since removed the post and withdrawn the allegation (possibly not realising the flurry of interest such a comment would make).
Mr Rudd was asked about allegation: "I'm not that happy about putting make up on at the best of times."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has coffee with local member Darren Cheeseman and minister Gary Gray in Torquay, Victoria, on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Mr Rudd is speaking to the media. He is laying into the Coalition's paid parental leave scheme. Or, as Mr Rudd puts, it "a dog of a policy".
Mr Rudd says the annual cost of the Coalition's scheme is more than the federal government spends each year on childcare assistance.
As for Tony Abbott's likening of it to a great social reform such as the introduction of the age pension, Mr Rudd says: "The age pension....provides $19,000 a year and he puts it in the same category as the paid parental leave scheme which gives $75,000 a year to millionaires."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Isaac, the son of local member Darren Cheeseman, in Torquay, Victoria, on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Let's take a minute to appreciate the effort of the protesters who take their message to politicians during the campaign.
My favourite thus far is Nemo, from the Youth Climate Coalition, who has popped up at various events featuring Mr Rudd and Mr Abbott. Here's Nemo with Mr Rudd in Torquay, Victoria, a short time ago.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Nemo, from the Youth Climate Coalition, in Torquay, Victoria, on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Former prime minister John Howard is speaking at the campaign launch of Liberal National Party frontbencher Steve Ciobo on the Gold Coast where he has been given a rousing reception.
"I can't hear Mr Rudd say re elect me because," Mr Howard says.
He then goes to denounce Labor's claim that it saw Australia through the global financial crisis.
"This country was in a superb fiscal budgetary position when the global financial crisis occurred," Mr Howard says before urging "every Liberal National Party member in the country" to tell people the truth about just which party is the better economic manager.
Mr Howard slams Kevin Rudd's winding back of his immigration policies during his first term.
Mr Rudd should have done "absolutely nothing," Mr Howard says, but instead "he had to be the smart alec of Australian politics".
He then offers this pithy observation: "When it comes to competing egos in politics there will never be market failure."
In the 10.18am post I pointed you to Bianca Hall's account of Mr Rudd's feisty appearance earlier today.
I now have some video, shot by Andrew Meares, if watching is more your cup of tea.
Rudd: 'I have a habit of coming back'
Kevin Rudd rallies the troops in Torquay with another feisty campaign event, and jokes about his comeback kid resilience.
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WARNING! This is my political nerd post for the day.
On Saturday there will be a special open day at Parliament House to commemorate the building's 25th anniversary.
"The first parliamentary sitting in the 'new' Parliament House took place 25 years ago today and an extra special Open Day is in store to help celebrate the anniversary," a joint statement issued by the President of the Senate, John Hogg, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anna Burke says.
The public will be able to get a rare look around the Prime Minister's offices, the offices of the Speaker and the President of the Senate and the chance to walk on the floors of both chambers.
How cool is that? I've been into the offices but I've never been on the floor of either chamber.
The Open Day program is available here.
PS. There will be Senate show bags! Could someone get me one please?
Reporter Bianca Hall is with Team Rudd.
"People have written me off before but I have a habit of coming back," Mr Rudd told the event in Geelong. "I've been written off more times than I can remember....I'm made of sterner stuff than that. We're made of sterner stuff than that; you're made of sterner stuff than that. And in this election campaign we're not going to take a backwards step. We're going to fight, fight, fight."
Alex Ellinghausen reports Team Abbott is just about to arrive in Sydney:
Campaign window: Welcome to Sydney pic.twitter.com/EjRU83C40M
— Alex Ellinghausen (@ellinghausen) August 21, 2013
Finally - someone ends this sausage-without-bread madness.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at a community event in Geelong on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares
It's not often you see Labor leaders near this particular flag these days.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at a community event in Geelong on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares
Well, yes, that's one way of keeping your hair under control.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at a community event in Geelong on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares
The baby has barely born and it's already being hawked around (presumably only to Coalition MPs though):
Fantastic news--new baby available for kissing --granddaughter no3 just born. Family all well.
— Senator Sue Boyce (@SenatorSue) August 21, 2013
Whoever "won" the encounter Mr Rudd certainly looked like a happy chappy when he visited Geelong earlier this morning.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at a union event in Geelong on Thursday. Photo: Andrew Meares
But enough of the pundits - what do you think? Who won?
Do you need an edited highlights package?
Chief political correspondent Mark Kenny wrote a news story about the encounter which you can find here.
The Age's political editor, Michael Gordon, awarded a narrow victory to Labor leader Kevin Rudd.
The Sydney Morning Herald's political editor, Peter Hartcher, made the interesting observation that Mr Rudd and Mr Abbott seemed to swap roles - Mr Rudd went from positive to negative while Mr Abbott went the other way. He writes that Mr Abbott is still in the box seat as far as the election's possible outcome is concerned.
As an aside, the 100 or so people who were in the audience for the community forum gave a narrow win to Mr Abbott (although about a third of the audience were undecided).
"Does this guy ever shut up?", an animated Coalition leader Tony Abbott said of Labor leader Kevin Rudd.
Whether you thought it was funny or rude it was certainly the line of last night's community forum and the water cooler moment (in much the same way as Mr Rudd's use of notes in the debate held at the end of the first week caused a flurry of discussion).
People in the room seemed to find it amusing although the reaction on social media was less impressed. It's all about context, isn't it?
I was just relieved the forum was the encounter between leaders I think voters deserve - engaged, dynamic and punchy. Whatever host channel Sky News put in the water last night I hope they bring it out again at their next event in Rooty Hill, Sydney, next Wednesday.
Team Abbott has just flown out of Brisbane for an undisclosed location.
Team Rudd wasted no time and flew to Melbourne last night. Mr Rudd has already been to Geelong this morning and is scheduled to arrived in the seaside town of Torquay in about half an hour's time.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott goes for an early morning bike ride in Brisbane, Queensland on Thursday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the campaign.
Last night was fun, wasn't it? Let's spend some time this morning looking back on the community forum. Kevin Rudd gave a fighting - if not necessarily winning - performance .
It's a pleasure to have your company as Andrew Meares, Alex Ellinghausen and I take you through the day.
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