| The push for better infrastructure and anger over 'sexist' campaign mail | Good afternoon,
The end is in sight. Bill Shorten delivered his final formal bid to win over voters at the National Press Club, while the Coalition released its final costings.
Here's what happened today:
1. NEW SAVINGS MEASURES HELP THE COALITION'S BUDGET BOTTOM LINE
Treasurer Scott Morrison said his final costings show the Coalition's election promises would cost $1.2 billion over four years, while its new savings measures would bring in $2.3 billion.
That adds up to a $1.1 billion improvement to the budget.
So, what are these savings measures? The Coalition said there would be more frequent reporting of welfare recipients and increased auditing to crack down on undeclared income.
Labor queried when the savings measures had been costed.
"They don't appear on the election costings website, which means they were probably costed by Treasury before PEFO, so we question whether they are the most up to date costings available," shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said.
2. SHORTEN MAKES HIS FINAL PITCH
The Opposition Leader used his speech at the National Press Club to make his case on issues such as Medicare, education and the economy.
He also promised that if elected, a bill to legalise same-sex marriage would be the first piece of legislation he introduces into Parliament.
"No $160 million plebiscite, no hurtful, hateful government-sponsored advertising campaign for us," he said.
Still not exactly sure how Labor's policies compare to the Coalition's? This is the explainer for you.
3. HAVEN'T NOTICED AN INFRASTRUCTURE REVOLUTION?
Experts say that's because while Australia has doubled the amount it spends on infrastructure, poor governance has made it hard for everyday Australians to see the benefits.
"Most Australians will be surprised to know we've doubled the amount of infrastructure spending to about $500 billion in the last decade," Garry Bowditch, head of the Better Infrastructure Initiative at Sydney University, said.
He said the problem is how governments decide which projects to fund.
The Grattan Institute says in this year's campaign, the Coalition has promised $5.4 billion and Labor $6.7 billion on roads and public transport.
4. WOMEN GIVEN INCORRECT SURNAMES IN CAMPAIGN MAIL
A number of women have contacted the ABC to say Liberal Party election campaign material sent to their home addresses had changed their surnames to match the man they live with.
Some of the women were married, some were not, and all said they had never been registered anywhere under that name.
"I think it's quite antique and quite sexist, because it is really important to me as I enter marriage that I retain my own autonomy," said one of the women, Melissa Ran.
ELECTION SPOTLIGHT: DAN ILIC VISITS THE DISTANT LAND OF 'NOTAMAJORCITY'
Dan Ilic spent 10 days hitchhiking from Hobart to Airlie Beach, staying away from all the major cities. It was an interesting journey.
"It's not until I drove through Central Queensland where the unemployment rate is significantly higher than the capital cities, that I actually saw in the wild, with my own eyes, even shook hands with, a "dope smoking, dole bludging, mum on welfare, popping kids to get a bit of extra cash". It was awesome. She was wonderful. Sure a bit racist, but who isn't?" he writes.
"In Sydney where I live, the price of living is so high that the idea of having kids to get ahead is like drilling holes in a row boat to stay afloat. But in Sydney ... there are jobs ... in Notamajorcity there are not."
FROM THE DRUM: DISILLUSIONED WITH POLITICS? TAKE HEART IN JULY 1
If you need some cheering up, or some reassurance that this election campaign is not all a waste of time, Annabel Crabb thinks you should try thinking about July 1 instead.
This Friday the National Disability Insurance Scheme will slip quietly into national operation.
Crabb writes that it's an example of our political system seeing a terrible inequity, and somehow finding a way to address it even though it was difficult and expensive and not a populist cause.
And it's something to smile about on the way to the polling booth.
COMING UP NEXT: - Treasurer Scott Morrison will be live on 7.30
- Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will be interviewed on Lateline at 10:30pm on ABC 1. Her Opposition counterpart, Tanya Plibersek, will be featured in 'Poll Position'
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