Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott have delivered their opening pitches in the 2013 federal election race with both promising "positive plans" for the future.

The Prime Minister says the election is about who Australians can "trust" while the Opposition Leader says it is really about "who is more fair dinkum".

Mr Rudd set the nation on course for a five-week election campaign after visiting the Governor-General this afternoon to formally ask Quentin Bryce to issue the writs for a September 7 poll.

Just five weeks after he seized the Labor leadership back from Julia Gillard, Mr Rudd first announced the date via an email to supporters, beginning with the phrase: "It's on".

Follow our rolling coverage for the latest updates, read our comprehensive wrap and also check out Annabel Crabb's analysis piece - Can Australians learn to trust these men?