Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have gone head to head for the third and final time in a leaders' debate before polling day, trading barbs on wages growth and cost of living pressures..
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The debate, hosted by Channel 7 on Wednesday night, was held with just nine days to go until the May 21 election.
Mr Albanese said low wage workers, including cleaners and aged care employees were "heroes of the pandemic" and deserved "more than our thanks".
"I want a better future where we deal with the cost of living crisis where everything is going up except for people's wages," he said.
The opposition leader said a 5 per cent minimum wage increase amounted to "two cups of coffee a day".
Mr Morrison said he also backed a wage rise for all workers, but small businesses across the country would struggle with that increase in their wages bills "on top of all the other things they're facing".
"People won't be worrying about what their wages are, they will be worrying about whether they have a job," the prime minister said.
Both leaders were asked about the shift towards independents and micro parties among voters, and what they thought was driving it.
Mr Albanese said there was a great deal of disillusionment with major parties.
Mr Morrison was asked to justify his criticism of his opponent when he labelled him the "most dangerous leader since Gough Whitlam".
He said Mr Albanese "has been very loose" on economic policy and "makes things up as he goes along".
In response, Mr Albanese slammed the prime minister over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters.
When asked what trait they admired in each other, Mr Morrison said it was Mr Albanese's rise from "humble beginnings" to become the leader of the Labor Party.
Mr Albanese said the prime minister was committed to the nation and had invested heavily in mental health.
Earlier, while visiting the seat of North Sydney, Mr Albanese said Labor supported a rise in the minimum wage above inflation, currently at 5.1 per cent.
But he stopped short of saying he would put the figure in a formal government submission to the Fair Work Commission, instead noting: "It's very clear what our view is and I think the commission probably has heard that."
Mr Albanese said it was a simple case of Australians currently earning $20.33 an hour, wanting an extra $1 an hour.
"Well, there is a cost of living crisis and people are doing it tough and that is why there needs to be action (on wages)."
But Mr Morrison said a wage increase tied to the 5.1 per cent inflation figure was an ill-thought-out policy and attacked Mr Albanese for being a "loose unit" on the economy.
"It's like throwing fuel on the fire of rising interest rates and rising cost of living," Mr Morrison said.
Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce said a 5.1 per cent rise would be inflationary, describing it as "idiotic".
Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said wage growth over five per cent - or an increase to the minimum wage of $42 a week - was unsustainable.
Australian Associated Press