Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott in Canberra on Sunday. 6:23pm: Finally the day came. Let's look back on it before saying goodbye. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced the election will be on September 7 (in five weeks' time); Mr Rudd grabbed the underdog status and said he knows hanging on to power will be difficult; Labor will concentrate on the economy, health and education; Coalition leader Tony Abbott stressed the unity and stability of his team; Mr Abbott wants to focus on the economy, border protection and "social solidarity"; and the Greens are promising to inject the compassion back into politics. So it's over to you people. It's your choice. I'm looking forward to your company over the next five weeks. Alex Ellinghausen, Andrew Meares and I will be with you for the duration. Let's enjoy it. See you in the morning. 6:07pm: So before I wrap up let me advise you of some dates (courtesy of the Australian Electoral Commission): August 4, 2013 - election announced August 5, 2013 - writs issued 8pm August 12, 2013 - electoral rolls closed midday August 15, 2013 - close of candidate nominations midday August 16, 2013 - declaration of candidate nominations September 7, 2013 - election day November 13, 2013 - return of writs (latest dates) Opposition Leader Tony Abbott visits the press gallery after his press conference at Parliament House on Sunday. Photo: Alex Ellinghausaen 5:35pm: In relation to the debates (about which there will be a debate) the Coalition has proposed three encounters - one debate between the leaders at the National Press Club to be held in Canberra next Sunday, a forum at the Rooty Hill RSL in Sydney with questions from voters and another debate in Brisbane. Personally, I'm all for debates - the more information, the better. 5:26pm: And that's it from Mr Abbott. 18 minutes and 40 seconds for my time keeping friends. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott speaks to the media at Parliament House on Sunday. 5:22pm: Mr Abbott says people "want a government that gets things done, not a government that is all talk no action." Mr Abbott says he will not lead a minority government and "if there is a hung Parliament there will not be a minority government led by Tony Abbott." 5:18pm: Mr Abbott is now taking questions. The first one is about debates. Mr Abbott says he is open to more than one debate and that the letter sent by campaign director Brian Loughnane to the ALP will be released shortly. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott speaks to the media at Parliament House in Canberra on Sunday. 5:17pm: "Do you really think Australia needs another three years like the six it just had?" Mr Abbott asks voters. I am ready. My team is ready. You've watched us for three years. You've seen the stability, you've seen the unity, you've seen the strength. We won't let you down. 5:14pm: "I'm determined to build a country where no one ever feels like a stranger," Mr Abbott says. One of the things that has been most dismaying about the current government has been its attempts to turn Australian against Australian. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Sunday 4 August 2013. 5:12pm: Mr Abbott says he is "happy to place himself at the judgement of the Australian people." Mr Abbott promises to deliver a stronger economy, cut regulation and to "stop the boats." "We won't rely simply on another country doing the job for us," Mr Abbott says. No one should be more determined to help this country than the Australian prime minister. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Sunday. 5:10pm: Coalition leader Tony Abbott says he wants to "directly address the people of Australia." At last the choice is yours. Mr Abbott says it is a choice between "positive plans of the Coalition and more of the same under the Australian Labor Party and Mr Rudd." Mr Abbott says the election is not about trust but about "who is more fair dinkum." 4:54pm: The Fairfax Media online team have produced this nifty two minute guide to the election announcement. You've just got time to watch it before Coalition leader Tony Abbott's press conference at 5pm. 4:53pm: Greens leader Christine Milne has issued a statement about the election. "While Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott continue to fight each other in a race to the bottom on important issues like climate change and asylum seekers, the Greens are standing up for what matters," Senator Milne says. The Australian Greens will be calling on people to vote for a caring and sustainable Australia and to vote against cruelty and environmental destruction. Senator Milne says the Greens will campaign on issues including asylum seekers, the environment and education. Unlike either Labor or the Coalition the Greens have not asked for donations in their first campaign statement. Instead, they have urged people to enrol to vote. "If you are aged 18 or over I encourage you to enrol to vote so you don't miss out on having a say at this year's federal election," Senator Milne says. Your vote will help determine who runs our country. 4:38pm: Mr Rudd wraps up his press conference saying it is cold and he "looks forward to seeing you on the campaign trail." A colleague notes the press conference went for 28 minutes and nine seconds. And no, Mr Rudd did not "zip." Coalition leader Tony Abbott will hold a press conference in Canberra later this afternoon. It should be soon if he wants to make it onto the evening news. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd speaks to the media at Parliament House on Sunday. 4:31pm: Mr Rudd says he has already received an invitation from Sky News to participate in a debate with Coalition leader Tony Abbott tomorrow night. "I'm in like Flynn," Mr Rudd says before offering to be available for a debate on each Sunday night of the campaign on each of the networks. "You can run but you can't hide," Mr Rudd says laying down the gauntlet to Mr Abbott. 4:28pm: Mr Rudd (who is wearing a tie that can only be described as fuchsia) confirms the local government referendum cannot take place. It's a pity, he says, but there was little point given the Coalition is divided on the issue making a positive outcome unlikely. Mr Rudd is asked about the role of former prime minister Julia Gillard twice. He mentions "Julia" twice in relation to education reform. 4:22pm: The September 7 poll date means Mr Rudd will no longer attend the G20 meeting in St Petersburg. Foreign Minister Bob Carr will now attend, he says. 4:21pm: "You the Australian people know me pretty well - warts and all," Mr Rudd says. You have "seen me at some of my highest highs and lowest lows." Mr Rudd claims the underdog status saying he knows it will be hard to win. If the election had been held yesterday Labor would have lost. He asks "each and every one of you" to donate time, money, anything to help Labor win. I think this might be the first time a prime minister has used the election announcement to solicit donations. "It is now time for the Australian people to decide," Mr Rudd says before taking questions. 4:17pm: Mr Rudd says Labor will campaign on the economy, health and education. He warns of a "$70 billion slash and burn austerity drive" that a Coalition government would embark on. Mr Rudd says people face a choice between "positive plans" and the "old negative politics and three word slogans of the past." "Cuts to the bone" as a catch phrase is back, by the way. 4:13pm: Mr Rudd says it is better to "level with the Australian people" about the choices made rather than pretend you can "wave a magic wand" and fix problems. He criticised the Coalition - but not by name - for talking down the economy. "It's a false claim and should be named as such," Mr Rudd says. 4:11pm: Mr Rudd says he is a "kid from the bush" whose parents "didn't go much past primary school." He was able to go to be prime minister. 4:10pm: Mr Rudd says the election will be about "who the Australian people best judge to get the balance right." The "choppy waters" of the changing economy requires a "clear head and a steady hand," Mr Rudd says. Three words slogans don't solve complex problems. They never have and they never will. 4:08pm: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd confirms the election: "Australia is too positive a nation to retreat into a little ball of negativity." Prime Minister Kevin Rudd speaks to the media at Parliament House in Canberra on Sunday. 4:01pm: The image from the afore mentioned tweet: Kevin Rudd tweeted this photo, about 20 minutes before he was due to address the media, with the caption: "Just some final touches to my speech about the choice Australians will make on September 7. KRudd 3:57pm: The stage is set. The scene in the Prime Minister's courtyard at Parliament House. 3:45pm: It's all about money. Clearly neither side has enough. Now an email has gone out to Coalition supporters courtesy of the Liberal National Party President, Bruce McIver. The Coalition is asking for $34 - $1 for each day of the campaign. "Without your support we will be outspent by Labor's cashed up union movement," Mr McIver writes. The election is the clearest choice in a generation - it's a choice between a truly united Coalition with our Real Solutions Plan or Labor and its chaos, division, dysfunction. Only the Coalition has a plan to build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia. The Coalition offers real change and will deliver a genuinely united government and a better future for all Australians. Labor hasn't changed at all over the last six years - it's still the same Kevin Rudd and same old Labor. 3:39pm: Back to Mr Rudd's email (see 3.29 pm post). Australians how face a choice. And the choice couldn't be starker," Mr Rudd writes. I have a positive vision about the country we can be. In this election I'll be talking with Australians across the country about better schools for our kids, investing so we can create good jobs and about how the NBN can keep our economy strong. Tony Abbott has a different approach. He'll bang on with the same negativity that we're all sick of. He's only got three word slogans because he doesn't have the ticker to debate his real agenda. Right now the only thing standing between Australia and an Abbott-led government is you, me and as many Australians as we can rally to fight for the kind of nation we call want to live in. Mr Rudd then asks supporters to donate $5 to "get us off to a strong start." "We've got one hell of a fight on our hands," the email concludes. Abbott and a few millionaires will out sepnd us. But is we join together we can even the playing field. 3:29pm: An email to Labor supporters has just arrived in inboxes around the country. "It's on," the email begins. A few moments ago I saw the Governor-General and asked that she dissolve this parliament and call the federal election for September 7. 3:23pm: Mr Rudd has finished meeting with the Governor General. He is now on his way back to Parliament House to make the official announcement. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd departs Government House on Sunday. 3:16pm: Mr Rudd will now be asking Ms Bryce to dissolve Parliament ahead of an election. Mr Rudd will then go back to Parliament House and hold a press conference to make the official announcement. The safe money is on September 7 which gives us a five week campaign. It means the local government referendum will not take place. The earliest date it could have been held was September 14 - the date chosen by former prime minister Julia Gillard. 3:09pm: The Prime Minister's car - C1 - popped into the Lodge and is now heading down Dunrossil Drive, the road leading to Government House. So much of today's coverage bears a striking similarity to royal wedding coverage. 3:01pm: The media is waiting for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to arrive at the Yarralumla residence of the Governor General, Quentin Bryce. A member of Mr Rudd's security scene can be seen in the grounds making sure everything is okay. An officer from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's security team arrives at Government House in Canberra on Sunday.