Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has travelled to Canberra to meet with the Governor General, to dissolve parliament and set off a six week election campaign.

Scott Morrison and his Liberal/Nationals government have been running behind in a number of opinion polls.

The announcement of the May 21 date sets up a 41 day election campaign.

Earlier, Australia’s Employment Minister Stuart Robert argued the Coalition will present a positive vision to the country during the election campaign.

Mr Robert told Sky News the government had a strong economic message to present to the Australian public with unemployment forecast to drop below 4 per cent and economic growth also running at about 4 per cent.

Labor ahead in polls

Labor leader Anthony Albanese is spruiking his economic credentials in an election campaign ad.

Citing his economic degree from Sydney University and six years as infrastructure minister, the Labor leader said he would “get spending under control so we can keep taxes low”.

“Growing up with a single mum, I know the value of a dollar,” Mr Albanese said in the ad.

“Debt has skyrocketed under the Liberals. They’d doubled the debt even before the pandemic.”

He also said Labor would work with manufacturers so Australians could “make more things here”.

“Australians deserve a prime minister who shows up, who takes responsibility,” he said, promising cheaper child care, lower power bills and “fee-free TAFE”.