Day 44 of the federal election campaign

FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN: DAY 44

WHERE THE LEADERS CAMPAIGNED:

* Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull: Darwin, in the marginal government seat of Solomon held by Natasha Griggs.

* Labor leader Bill Shorten: Melbourne, in the Labor seat of Bruce.

WHAT THE COALITION TALKED ABOUT:

* Historic handover of title deeds in the long-running Kenbi indigenous land claim.

* Labor's "new electricity tax".

WHAT LABOR TALKED ABOUT:

Election a referendum on Medicare.

WHAT IS MAKING NEWS:

* Cabinet minister Mathias Cormann, who personally opposes same-sex marriage, says he will abide by a national vote on the issue.

* Shorten dismisses as "nonsense, complete rubbish" modelling showing Labor's negative gearing and capital gains tax crackdown will cut housing prices.

* Australians shouldn't be passing judgment on US presidential hopeful Donald Trump, Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek warns.

* Australian Chamber of Commerce releases detailed plan for the next government to lift Australia into the top 10 most competitive nations for business.

* Foreign Minister Julie Bishop insists Australia is not turning a blind eye to Nauru's ailing democracy and declining rule of law

* The Reserve Bank hasn't given many hints about its next interest rate cut.

LATEST POLLS

Essential remains unchanged with Labor leading coalition 51-49 per cent after preferences; 37 per cent say coalition most likely to reduce the budget deficit against 14 per cent for Labor.

THEY SAID WHAT?

"Mate, I'm answering the question ... I won't give it to you in a five-second grab because this issue deserves a proper explanation."

- Shorten explaining Labor's claim the coalition is planning to privatise Medicare.

TWEETED:

@corybernardi: "Why does #QandA allow questions built around falsehoods and why wasn't it called out for what it was by both host and guest?"

- Liberal senator upset with both the ABC and PM.