With polling day for the 2022 federal election set for 21 May, the nation's two major parties are attempting to sell their messages to voters in the hope of emerging victorious.
But how did the modern Liberal and Labor parties get to where they are today, and who are the key figures that have shaped them?
From Gough Whitlam to Anthony Albanese, and Sir Robert Menzies to Scott Morrison, here's a brief history of Australia's two major parties that have taken turns in leading the country for decades.
The Liberal Party
The centre-right Liberal Party has been a dominant force in Australian politics, having remained in power for nine years since the 2013 federal election.
Liberal has stood in coalition with the National Party (formerly known as the Country Party) since its foundation in 1944.
By convention, the leader of the Liberal Party serves as prime minister when the Coalition is in government, and as leader of the opposition when the Coalition is not in power.
The leader of the National Party becomes deputy prime minister during periods of conservative government.
Sir Robert Menzies
Over the years, the Coalition has been served by many leaders, but former Liberal prime minister Sir Robert Menzies is Australia’s longest-serving prime minister.
One of the founders of the party, he held the position twice from 1939 to 1941 and 1949 to 1966 – a total of 18 years and five months.
Sir Robert was an advocate of the 1901 Immigration Restriction Act – more commonly known as the "White Australia Policy".
Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser was Liberal leader and prime minister from 1975 until 1983.
As Opposition leader, he blocked the passing of then Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam's Budget bills through the Senate between October and November 1975.
That led to Governor-General Sir John Kerr withdrawing Mr Whitlam's commission as prime minister on 11th November 1975 and installing Mr Fraser as interim prime minister.
Malcolm Fraser was Liberal leader and prime minister from 1975 until 1983. Source: AAP / WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images
John Howard
The Coalition's second-longest serving prime minister served as prime minister from 1996 to 2007.
John Howard was the Liberal Party's second-longest serving prime minister. Source: AAP
Tony Abbott
But the stability of the Menzies and Howard eras fell apart in the years since Mr Howard lost the 2007 election to Kevin Rudd's Labor Party, triggering a period in Australian political history of unstable leadership for both major parties.
It was Tony Abbott who led the Coalition back into government in September 2013.
"In three years’ time the carbon tax will be gone, boats will be stopped, the budget will be on track for a believable surplus, and the roads of the 21st century will finally be well underway," Mr Abbott said.
But Mr Abbott was deposed as party leader and prime minister in a leadership challenge by Malcolm Turnbull in September 2015.
Malcolm Turnbull
Mr Turnbull lost the Liberal leadership and his role as prime minister after another leadership challenge in August 2018.
"To imagine that a government would be rocked by this sort of disloyalty and deliberate insurgency, is the best way to describe it - deliberate, destructive action," Turnbull said.
The challenge by then Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton led to two subsequent leadership spills.
Mr Turnbull won the first against Mr Dutton but didn't stand in the second with then Treasurer Scott Morrison, who defeated Mr Dutton to become the Liberals' (and Australia's) third prime minister in less than two terms of government - the nation's seventh since 2007.
Scott Morrison
It was Mr Morrison who led the Coalition to victory in the election campaign against the Labor Party in 2019.
"If you have a go in this country, you’ll get a go. There’s a fair go for those who have a go. That’s what fairness in Australia means,” Morrison said.
Polls and election pundits all backed a Labor win and there were suggestions Mr Morrison couldn’t overcome the damage done to the Liberal Party’s reputation by its leadership turmoil.
But Mr Morrison proved the doubters wrong with the electorate failing to warm to then Opposition leader Bill Shorten, who had led the Labor Party for six years.
Dr Peter Chen, senior lecturer in the government and international relations at the University of Sydney, said Liberal Party has always had divisions within its ranks since its formation in 1944.
"I think those things about credibility and party unity are going to be a major thing for the Liberals to deal with, leading into the election. And they've only got a few weeks to resolve that," Dr Chen told SBS News.
The Labor Party
Growing out of the trade union movement before Federation, the centre-left Australian Labor Party (ALP) is the oldest party in the country.
Faced with economic depression in the 1890s, workers in Queensland decided they needed a political party to represent them and by 1899, the ALP had formed its first government.
Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam is perhaps the most iconic Labor prime minister, respected by supporters for his reforming agenda and made notorious by his dismissal by then Governor-General Sir John Kerr in 1975.
Gough Whitlam is arguably the most iconic Labor prime minister. Credit: Hulton Archive
Bob Hawke
Former Australian Council of Trade Unions boss Bob Hawke is Labor's longest-serving prime minister, who held power from 1983 to 1991.
Mr Hawke led a government that introduced reforms to deregulate the Australian economy, including floating the dollar, while also overseeing a period of recession with unemployment reaching the highest level since the Great Depression.
Paul Keating
Mr Hawke lost the leadership after a bitter challenge by his treasurer Paul Keating, who claimed to have been promised the top job in a deal between the two, many years beforehand.
Paul Keating claims to have been promised the role of prime minister by Bob Hawke. Source: SBS News / SBS News
Kevin Rudd
The leadership rivalry returned soon after Kevin Rudd swept to power with a healthy majority in 2007.
Mr Rudd issued a national apology in 2008 to the generations of Indigenous children who had been forcibly removed from their families.
"For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind. We say sorry," Rudd said in 2007.
But the Rudd years were also known for acrimonious leadership challenges.
Former Labor prime minister, Kevin Rudd. Credit: the australian
Julia Gillard
Ms Gillard won a leadership ballot to depose Mr Rudd, making her Australia's first woman prime minister.
She faced continued opposition from within her own party while also facing down then Liberal leader Tony Abbott.
"I rise to oppose the motion moved by the leader of the opposition and in so doing I say to the leader of the opposition I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man," Gillard said.
Mr Rudd challenged Ms Gillard for the leadership without success in February 2012 but in June 2013, Rudd took back Labor leadership and the prime ministership, leading the party to an election loss in September.
Bill Shorten
One man, who played key roles in these leadership struggles, was Bill Shorten who swung support between Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard.
Bill Shorten swung his support between Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. Source: AAP
Anthony Albanese
The day after the 2019 election, Anthony Albanese was elected unopposed as leader of the Labor Party.
"There are two key issues that they need to campaign on - national security and economic management. And over the last 20 years or so, the Liberal-National Coalition has tended to be the party that is seen as being better on those issues," Dr Chen told SBS News.
"And so Labor needs to work to say no, no, we are actually extremely competent in these core policy issues."
