Federal Election 2013: Kevin Rudd in Sydney on Day 20 of the campaign Kevin Rudd announcing a change of plans this morning. PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd will take a break in his election campaigning to return to Canberra for a briefing on the crisis in Syria. He said he had "grave concerns" about the crisis in Syria and will go to Canberra today to be briefed with national security officials. "I will work with officials on any possible and appropriate Australian response, depending on the nature of the brief concerned," Mr Rudd said. We are still establishing the facts. We have, together with the United States, grave concerns. The government has been watching carefully, including with our allied United States. We have noted carefully what President Obama has said. Obama: Syria attack a 'grave concern' Syria tensions don't stop Abbott Mr Rudd said he was aware of reports the Pentagon is preparing missile strikes on Syria. I am aware of those media reports, I'm also aware of a range of other reports, which I will attend to upon my return to Canberra later today. Mr Rudd still will not say whether the Australian Government believes chemical weapons were used, and has reiterated his intention for "a calm sober response." "We are still working the detail through," Mr Rudd said, adding, "When you are talking about the use of weapons of mass destruction against large civilian concentrations, this is a matter of concern for all decent human beings, and a concern for our future." The PM is again courting the small business vote today, starting off with a visit to the NBNCo Training and Discovery Centre in North Sydney. And it comes as a new poll shows the Coalition extending its lead over Labor to 53-47 on a two-party-preferred basis. The Fairfax-Nielsen poll shows Tony Abbott retains the lead as the most trusted leader, with a rating of 43 per cent to Mr Rudd's career low 36 per cent. Mr Rudd is in North Sydney to announce Labor would appoint a Small Business Adviser to the Fair Work Ombudsman, create a Small Business Consultative Council and give the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia (COSBOA) funding of $200,000 a year for two years. Mr Rudd dodged questions about whether he met Employment Minister Bill Shorten in Richard Marles' office on the night of the Mid Winter Ball. "I haven't read these articles," Mr Rudd said. Pressed on the matter again, he responded: "I met with Bill yesterday."