Many of the newspapers praised Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Labor for providing a legitimate choice and laying out a substantive policy agenda but said this wasn't enough to justify another change of prime minister. Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten Last weekend, Fairfax Media's Sunday newspapers The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age diverged, with the former backing the Coalition and the latter arguing Labor has a coherent vision for the country. As Friday's opinion pages landed on nature strips, both leaders were bombarding national TV and radio stations with 24 hours to go until election day. Mr Turnbull continued to hammer his well-practiced economic stability manifesto, sometimes on the defensive over Labor's Medicare scare campaign as Mr Shorten attended a Sydney rally on that exact issue.

The Sydney Morning Herald "But having assuaged the right so much, can Mr Turnbull be trusted to argue for same-sex marriage, Indigenous recognition, multiculturalism, and a republic? The answer to most of these questions is yes, and – reassuringly – Mr Turnbull has grown stronger in proclaiming, and articulating, his support for some of these key social policies during the course of the campaign." The Age "Mr Shorten has, however, presented the nation with a legitimate choice. But we believe Mr Turnbull deserves the chance to deliver on the potential that stirred the nation when he came to power less than a year ago." The Canberra Times

"Mr Turnbull's reluctance to fully embrace budget repair and the need for overdue tax reform notwithstanding, the Coalition promises stronger, more effective government than Labor." The Australian Financial Review "[Mr Turnbull] is not, in policy terms, the damaged goods that Mr Abbott had become, unable to explain or persuade. Mr Turnbull remains a popular figurehead who can still transmit the messages the country needs to hear. He and the Coalition deserve the backing of the Financial Review and the Australian people. The Australian "If he stays true to the foundation stones of the Coalition's modest success thus far, overlaying it with his own businesslike approach and obvious optimism, he could be the man for these times. The Prime Minister has demonstrated he knows the importance of a firm rein on public spending and offering a leg up for private sector growth."

The Daily Telegraph "Australians face a simple choice. Either commit to a Prime Minister and a government that largely recognises the problems we must confront, or opt for an alternative that will blow spending through the roof." The Herald Sun "Mr Shorten has campaigned hard, but Labor needs to spend at least another three years on the opposition benches to get its policy and cultural house in order. The Herald Sun believes Australia's future is best served with a vote for Mr Turnbull and the re-election of the Coalition." The West Australian

"Mr Turnbull and his leadership team have provided a clear vision for the future and they should be given the opportunity to execute that plan and, if re-elected, the Prime Minister needs to listen attentively and get on with leading the country." The Courier Mail "Mr Shorten and Labor have managed to put their past behind them to offer a broadly credible alternative, but on balance Mr Turnbull and the Coalition are a more coherent prescription in an era that demands experience, stability and certainty." The Advertiser "It's vital Australia has a decisive leader who can deliver a strong plan for the nation's people and our economy. A vote for Mr Turnbull and the Coalition is the best way to ensure we are on a clear path to prosperity."