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Election 2016 leaders' debate: Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten face off at the National Press Club

Live: Leaders' debate
Live: Leaders' debate 

And there I will leave our live coverage of the leaders' debate.

Here is chief political reporter James Massola's account of the debate.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Lucy Turnbull leave the debate on Sunday.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Lucy Turnbull leave the debate on Sunday. Photo: Andrew Meares

No one hangs around for too long.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Lucy Turnbull and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop leave the National Press Club ...
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Lucy Turnbull and Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop leave the National Press Club on Sunday. Photo: Andrew Meares

So who won? Did anyone win? I'd say it was a draw. But both men could have done a lot better (or a lot worse for that matter).

After that it would be hard to see how either campaign team would see another debate being worth the time and effort.

Lucy Turnbull hugs Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull after the debate.
Lucy Turnbull hugs Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull after the debate. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

One of my colleagues counted 75 uses of the word 'tax', 24 for 'trust', 19 of 'education' and 17 for 'health'.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten with Chloe Shorten after the debate.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten with Chloe Shorten after the debate. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Viewer/voter frustration seems widespread:

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Things no one mentioned in the debate - negative gearing, Safe Schools, childcare, paid parental leave, the NDIS or, the reason this election was apparently needed, the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

You can argue whether it was the format or the participants which made that debate less than enlightening. One person pointed out on twitter said it was like two press conferences being held side by side. It did feel like that.

The forum that was held at Windsor RSL a couple of weeks ago had more substance because the questions were more wide-ranging and unexpected. Watching both men answer the question about privatisation, for example, was quite instructive. That element was missing from tonight's event.

And that's it. 

Mr Shorten: "The Labor view is that you can't sep economy growth into column and fairness in the other."

"Mr Turnbull's big plan is a great big spending give away to big business...He wants to give them a tax cut, I want to give them a royal commission."

Mr Shorten says he believes in a great future for Australia but it is one that includes everyone.

We move to closing statements.

Mr Turnbull says "Mr Shorten Is against any business, except the very smallest, getting any benefit".

"The opportunity for every single Australian depends on a strong economic growth, otherwise where is the future for our young people?"

"Labor has a plan for spending, it has a plan for higher taxes. It does not have a plan for growth."

Leaders' debate between Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten at the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Sunday.
Leaders' debate between Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten at the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Sunday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
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Mr Shorten says Mr Turnbull used to be "so impressive" on climate change and says Labor offers a better alternative.

"We don't want to be a government that passes on problems to its kids," Mr Shorten says.

Food and electricity prices and insurance premiums are all items affected by climate change.

Mr Shorten says Mr Turnbull used to be "so impressive" on climate change and says Labor offers a better alternative.

"We don't want to be a government that passes on problems to its kids," Mr Shorten says.

Food and electricity prices and insurance premiums are all items affected by climate change.

The leaders are asked why there could not be a bipartisan policy on climate change.

Mr Turnbull says he "has paid a high price in the past" for action on global warming. 

"I have a plan for practical action on climate change. It is working," Mr Turnbull says.

Mr Shorten gets a bit feisty: "I genuinely lead my party, while your party genuinely leads you."

The leaders are asked how they will stop the 1600 people on Nauru and Manus Island staying there indefinitely.

Mr Turnbull says none of them will come to Australia. They will be resettled in other countries or returned to their homelands.

Mr Shorten says which ever party forms government the same approach will be taken to people smugglers. He says if Labor wins government it would re-engage with the United Nations' refugee agency on its first day in office to find countries for resettlement.

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A little bit over half way through and neither Mr Turnbull nor Mr Shorten has revealed anything new or strayed far from the prepared talking points.

(By contrast, they were a little more on their toes at the people's forum on Sky TV at the end of the first week of the campaign because the questions came from the floor.)

Mr Shorten says he will provide all of the forward estimates during the campaign once the policies have been released.

Leaders debate between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten on Sunday.
Leaders debate between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten on Sunday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Turnbull is making sure he points out that he has spent most of his life as a businessman, not as a political staff or politician.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten on Sunday.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten on Sunday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Both leaders are asked why they do not have a properly funded medium term policy for education or health.

Mr Shorten makes his fourth attack on the Coalition's company tax cuts in 25 minutes: "We will do budget repair that is fair."

Mr Turnbull attacks Labor for having no plan for economic growth.

Mr Turnbull says he is "a known quantity in politics" and that he stands for the same things he has always stood for: "I came into this role as an adult, at 50."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during the leaders' debate on Sunday.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during the leaders' debate on Sunday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
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