On Day Two of the federal election campaign, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said teh jobs would be created out of tax incentives for small businesses to digitalise their operations and upskill employees, funding university innovation and supporting female workforce participation by enhancing paid parental leave.

Campaigning in Tasmania, Labor leader Anthony Albanese in announced Medicare support for regional patients, promising if elected to reinstate a 50 per cent regional loading for bulk-billed telehealth psychiatric consultations.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Seven Network the new jobs would come across a variety of industries.

“Right across the board, we have the economic plan that will create those new jobs right across the economy,” he said.

“We are creating more jobs because there is real dignity in work and everyone who can be in a job who wants a job can therefore provide for themselves and their family.”

If re-elected, the Liberal-National coalition will invest $22 billion in renewables and low emissions energy technology, $7.1 billion for infrastructure projects in regional areas and $3.7 billion for 800,000 new training positions.

Morrison said boosting job creation to higher levels than there were pre-pandemic was part of his government’s plan for a stronger economy.

“Our tax relief for workers and small business, our investments in skills and trades, and our support for our local manufacturing sector mean we can get more people into more jobs,” he said.

Frydenberg insisted Australia was leading the world when it came to jobs recovery from the pandemic.

“With more people in work and fewer people on welfare we have seen a $103 billion turn around in the budget bottom line,” he said.

The government also seized on Albanese’s day-one gaffe where he admitted he did not know the official interest rate or the national unemployment rate.

Albanese found an unlikely ally following his slip up in former prime minister John Howard, who said “so what?” when asked about the mistake.

Despite the sympathy from the Liberal elder, Frydenberg was keen to keep focus on the labor leader’s slip-up.

“It’s pretty desperate if (Albanese) is relying on John Howard for political cover,” he said.

“John Howard has said Anthony Albanese is not a person of substance and is trying to sneak into government with no policies.”