Australia Elections: Party leaders campaign one day ahead of vote

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02:21

Australia's candidates for prime minister are in the midst of one final push for votes before people head to the polls on Saturday. Some polls suggest that the race between incumbent Scott Morrison and challenger Bill Shorten has tightened in recent weeks. CGTN's Greg Navarro has more.

The challenge for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is to convince voters that he should remain in the top job, just eight months after he wrestled the top Liberal Party position from the former PM.

SCOTT MORRISON AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER "So the election, friends, is about a choice. The choice of who you can trust to keep the promise of Australia."

For Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, the goal is make the case that it's time for a change in leadership."

BILL SHORTEN AUSTRALIAN OPPOSITION LEADER "Vote for real change, vote Labor. Vote for your family's interests, vote Labor. Vote for your future, vote Labor."

But last-minute campaigning meant to focus solely on reaching undecided voters.

BLIGH GRANT ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY "This looks like being an increasingly close election, no one is counting their chickens yet."

Has been overshadowed somewhat by the death of one of the country's most popular leaders. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke died on Thursday at the age of 89.

SCOTT MORRISON AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER "He made Australia stronger through his contribution to public life."

BILL SHORTEN AUSTRALIAN OPPOSITION LEADER "Bob Hawke loves Australia, and Australia loves Bob Hawke."

Much of this election has focused on the economy, taxes, and climate change, but it's also presented voters with 2 very different approaches to government.

BLIGH GRANT ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY "On the one hand, it is a very traditional Australian election - we've got a conservative side of politics the Liberal and National Party that are pro-business and pro-free enterprise and on the other hand we've got a Labor opposition that is very pro-worker so they are clashing like this."

GREG NAVARRO SYDNEY "One aspect about this election that is different from past national contests is the number of people who have taken advantage of pre-polling or early voting - more than 3 million and counting."

While political analysts are divided over how that may impact the outcome, the candidates remain focused on those people who haven't voted, and have yet to make up their minds. Greg Navarro, CGTN, Sydney.