Asylum seeker policy continued to dominate the election campaign, with both major parties accusing the other of using tactics of demonisation.
On the same day Labor made a $12 billion promise to lift the freeze on fees governments pays to doctors.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sharpened the government's message on immigration, after controversial comments by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton on refugees.
Mr Dutton triggered a debate on the cost of the refugee resettlement program, with his remarks that illiterate refugees would take Australian jobs.
Labor and the Greens, meanwhile, are proposing increases to the annual humanitarian and refugee intake.
Campaigning to improve road safety in western Sydney, Mr Turnbull said only the Coalition can keep Australia's borders safe.
"We are committed to a multicultural Australia. And we're committed to an immigrant nation, which is what we are. We are committed to a generous humanitarian program but we've got to do it properly and Australians expect their government and their PM to manage that process well and that is what we are doing. What Labor is proposing is just political. Bill Shorten is only interested in the politics of this issue."
He says Labor is trying to divert attention away from Labor MP David Feeney's failure to disclose a negatively geared multi-million dollar property on the parliamentary record.
"And you can see the way he leapt on it yesterday to demonise Peter Dutton as a means of distracting attention from Mr Feeney's rather careless accounting for his real estate interests. That was all politics yesterday. We're focusing on governing and ensuring that we continue to build and remain the most successful multicultural society in the world, founded on immigration, founded on a compassionate, humanitarian program."
Opposition leader Bill Shorten says it's the federal government who is demonising refugees.
"People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, should they? The issue is that migrants got demonised yesterday by Peter Dutton. And Malcolm Turnbull backed in Peter Dutton over the great immigration history of this country. They want to run a cry of xenophobia, they want to undermine the migrant contribution to Australia because they don't want this election to be about the issues that matter to Australians. We won't let them get away with their lies."
Meanwhile, in the biggest funding announcement of this election so far, Mr Shorten says a Labor government would end a controversial freeze on Medicare rebates from January.
The freeze on fees the government pays to doctors was introduced temporarily under Labor in 2013 - and was continued by the Coalition.
The government says the freeze will continue until 2020.
Doctors say the extension means patients could pay up to twenty dollars out of their own pocket to see a GP when bulk-billed.
Bill Shorten says Labor's policy is about defending access to healthcare for all Australians.
"Australia has an efficient health care system. It can always make improvements. But we spend out about 10 per cent of our economic output on our health care. In America, with its two-tier, it's two-class system it costs the economy about 17 per cent. Medicare is not just fair. It is efficient. And what what we are doing is preserving bulk-billing. I do not want people who are sick on fixed income pensions, parents with kids or adults with chronic health conditions to have to choose between being able to afford the shopping that week, the power bills that week, or going to the doctor."
Labor says the policy would cost $2.4 billion over the next four years; and would apply to services provided by GPs, allied health and other medical specialists. Labor says the policy would cost $2.4 billion over the next four years; and would apply to services provided by GPs, allied health and other medical specialists. America, with its two-tier, it's two-class system it costs the economy about 17 per cent. Medicare is not just fair. It is efficient. And what what we are doing is preserving bulk-billing. I do not want people who are sick on fixed income pensions, parents with kids or adults with chronic health conditions to have to choose between being able to afford the shopping that week, the power bills that week, or going to the doctor."Â
Pathology and diagnostic imaging would not be covered.
It would be funded by dropping the Coalition's baby bonus, scrapping tax cuts for big companies and moving to cap vocational training loans.
Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison says the figures don't add up - and amounts to an empty promise.
"Now, Labor can't go out there and tell the Australian people that they are going to spend more money when they simply do not have the savings, or even the revenue with their higher taxes, to pay for those sorts of commitments. Every time you see Bill Shorten's lips moving in this campaign, he's spending more money that he doesn't have. And so every time he does that, it means that he is increasing taxes to try and catch his higher and higher spending."
Pressed by reporters for his position on restoring the public hospital funding cuts first announced in the Coalition's 2013 budget, Mr Shorten says he's not making any guarantees.
"We'll have more to say about our health policy as this election unfolds. But today there couldn't be a clearer choice between Labor's commitment to prioritise Medicare and the Liberals' commitment to prioritise tax cuts for big business."
Meanwhile, the Australian Medical Association has welcomed Labor's policy.
The group's President Brian Owler told Sky News, voters are being presented with a clear choice at the election.
"We have seen Labor committed to supporting Medicare, particularly in terms of the Medicare rebates. And that is good, not only for doctors, but all patients. On the otherhand, we've had the Coalition announcement of taking another billion dollars out of health in the budget (announced)only matter of weeks ago. So unless the Coalition starts to listen to the AMA doctors and other groups and starts to invest in health, I think there is going to be a very clear difference when it comes to this election."
The row over funding comes as Treasury prepares to release the pre-election budget update on Friday.
