The coalition is stepping up its claim of a risk to jobs and growth if the government changes, as a new poll shows Labor edging ahead.
The latest 7News-ReachTel poll gives Labor a 52-48 two-party preferred lead over the coalition - well down on the 10-point lead to the government in January during the Malcolm Turnbull honeymoon.
Labor's primary vote of 36.5 per cent is behind the coalition's 41.1 per cent but the opposition benefits from a Greens vote of 9.6 per cent and preferences from other parties.
Mr Turnbull - who took over the Liberal leadership in September - continues to lead Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister 55-45.
However a growing number of voters (36.8 per cent) believe Mr Turnbull is doing a poor job, compared with 33.8 per cent who rate him "satisfactory" and 29.4 per cent "good".
As the coalition seeks to make jobs and growth the key issue of the election, the poll showed 52.6 per cent of voters favoured the government to manage the economy - down almost three points on last week.
A televised debate between Treasurer Scott Morrison and Labor shadow Chris Bowen has lifted economic management to the fore of the election, as Bill Shorten and Malcolm Turnbull release indigenous policies.
Mr Morrison warned now was not the time to switch governments.
"The Turnbull government is asking the Australian people to keep to our national economic plan, rather than risk further change, disruption and delay," he said.
Mr Bowen described the coalition's "jobs and growth" election focus as a slogan, in contrast to the hard work Labor had put in to develop a suite of more than 100 policies.
"Jobs and growth ... replaces `debt and deficit disaster', `lifters and leaners', `have a go', `live within your means' - the government believes in a slogan-led economic recovery," the Labor frontbencher said.
The treasurers' debate came as protesters in Brisbane called on Mr Turnbull to protect penalty rates.
The Fair Work Commission is due to release its decision on weekend rates after the election.
Mr Turnbull said the government would respect the decision of the independent umpire and so should Labor but the opposition was "crab walking" away from this under pressure from unions.
The opposition leader told reporters in Darwin Mr Turnbull, a former investment banker, always backed the big end of town.
"Inequality in this country is growing, it is at a 75-year high."
Mr Turnbull released figures showing indigenous businesses benefiting from government contracts at a faster rate than expected.
He also confirmed the government would not run national votes on same-sex marriage and indigenous recognition in the constitution on the same day, saying they were "two separate issues".
Mr Shorten announced a plan to double the number of indigenous rangers.
The two leaders will face off in a debate on Sunday night.
