Day 42 of the federal election campaign

FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN: DAY 42

WHERE THE LEADERS CAMPAIGNED:

* Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull: Sydney's southwest in the Liberal-held seat of Macarthur, which is emerging as a key marginal battleground.

* Labor leader Bill Shorten: Penrith in Sydney's west, in the marginal Liberal seat of Lindsay, for his party's official campaign launch.

WHAT THE COALITION TALKED ABOUT:

* The risk to owner-driver truckies if Labor restores its road safety and wage-setting tribunal.

* $49 million plan to save 2700 jobs at Arrium steelworks in South Australia.

* Labor's "extraordinary and audacious" lies over Medicare privatisation.

WHAT LABOR TALKED ABOUT:

* Tax breaks for small businesses that hire young or old people, mums returning to work, or carers.

* Election a referendum on Medicare.

* Only Labor can build a stronger economy and fairer society.

* Vowing to reverse the coalition's cuts to bulk billing incentives for blood tests, X-rays and ultrasounds.

WHAT MADE NEWS:

* The government has not guaranteed funding for youth mental health services including Headspace.

* Turnbull, Tony Abbott and John Howard are the faces of a Liberal Party fundraising blitz across Melbourne this week.

* Jobless rates in Labor and Nationals electorates are higher than Liberal electorates, analysis by the Australian Institute shows.

THEY SAID WHAT?

"You can say a lot of things about Tony Abbott, and I know many of us have, but at least he believed in something."

- Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek warms up the party faithful.

TWEETED:

"Proud to be a member of the Australian Labor Party for 35 years now. Wishing @BillShortenMP all the best for the campaign launch today KRudd."

- Former prime minister Kevin Rudd - too busy overseas to attend - sends his best.