Updates from around Australia as voters go to the polls …

Bill Shorten’s final campaign day in home city

The Labor leader set his alarm clock before dawn to begin what will be the most important day of his political career.

Going for his routine early morning jog around Melbourne’s chilly CBD streets wearing a red t-shirt which read ‘Vote 1, Chloe Shorten’s husband’, Mr Shorten said he was feeling both confident and nervous starting the day as favourite.

In making a final pitch to viewers, he told Seven’s Sunrise:  “What I know after 2000 days in the job is that I’m confident Labor can run a united government.”

He targeted action on climate change, childcare costs, pensioners and stability as key messages.

PM Scott Morrison says it’s going to be a long night

“I think it will be a long night. I’ve always said this election will be close,” Mr Morrison said, also on Network Seven’s Sunrise on Saturday.

“Five weeks ago people weren’t saying that but I’ve always known it to be the case.”

The prime minister is visiting two voting stations in northern Tasmania on Saturday morning as the clocks tick down to the close of polls as the Coalition hopes to wrest the Launceston-based marginal seat of Bass back from Labor.

He will then fly to Sydney to cast his own vote in his home seat of Cook, before campaigning with other MPs in marginal electorates across the city.

‘Nervous’ Tony Abbott votes early after election eve corkscrew fight

The former prime minister says he’s “not too cocky” but quietly confident about being re-elected.

Mr Abbott cast his vote alone at Forestville Public School in his seat of Warringah on Saturday morning as he faces the fight of his political career.

He suffered a nine per cent primary vote swing against him at the 2016 election and now holds the seat with an 11 per cent margin.

But some bookies have ranked independent Zali Steggall the favourite.

Asked by a voter whether he is going to win on Saturday, Mr Abbott said he was “not too cocky” but quietly confident.

“I’ve always been a nervous candidate,” he told reporters after casting his vote and buying a loaf of banana bread from the school cake stall.

“Sure, I’ve got a few butterflies doing loop-the-loops in my tummy today as well. But that’s the lot of all candidates because the one thing you can never take for granted is the vote of the Australian people.”

Mr Abbott said it had been a “very ugly” campaign, noting that a Liberal volunteer was attacked with a corkscrew while putting up posters in Balgowlah on Friday night.

The 31-year-old was stabbed in the stomach, causing only a minor injury. The alleged 62-year-old attacker then started tearing down banners before fleeing.

“Lucky he wasn’t seriously hurt,” the former Liberal leader said.

“He’s back at his post today.”

Honoured to cast my vote this morning in such an important election for our community. At the polls today, cast your vote for a strong economy & a secure future. The Liberal Party is delivering for Warringah & I look forward to continuing that great work. #WarringahVotes #auspol pic.twitter.com/A6kCxg0d6Y

— Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) May 17, 2019

Politics of posters

The obligatory gripes about posters being defaced/torn down/stolen is gearing up on election day with this Twitter post from Queensland Greens senate candidate Andrew Bartlett.

It’s not hard to guess who has vandalised your election booth signage when it’s replaced by Liberal Party signs with lies about taxes, & all the torn down material is left on the ground behind it. Same old entitled Liberal Party #BrisbaneVotes #ausvotes #auspol

— Andrew Bartlett (@AndrewBartlett) May 17, 2019

Liberal candidate hopes voter anger over after ‘traumatic’ dumping of Malcolm Turnbull

An upbeat Dave Sharma has hugged his family before casting his vote in a bid to reclaim the formerly blue-ribbon seat of Wentworth in NSW.

The Liberal candidate was all smiles as he arrived at Paddington Public School with his wife and two girls on Saturday morning, joining a long line of voters on Saturday morning.

He says he won’t take anything for granted and would be campaigning hard to oust independent MP Kerryn Phelps until booths close at 6pm.

“It’s going to be a close race here I think, every vote will count so I’m just going to vote myself here,” he told reporters.

Mr Sharma believes voter anger has subsided after the “traumatic” dumping of then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The August knifing triggered a by-election which saw Dr Phelps wrestle Wentworth from the Liberals.

“There was definitely a noticeable mood of anger and resentment in the electorate last time towards the Liberals, towards us as a party, because of the leadership instability and the turmoil,” Mr Sharma told AAP ahead of the election.

“(But) some of that feeling has dissipated, as you would expect.”

And Ali France votes ahead of Peter Dutton

The ALP candidate for Dickson Ali France says she’s excited and slept really well ‘because I know I haven’t stopped’ in her campaign to oust Peter Dutton.