Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison waves to party faithful during the Liberal Party campaign launch at the Brisbane Convention Centre in Brisbane, Australia on May 15, 2022. MICK TSIKAS CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison denied that his change in attitude on the election campaign has been driven by poor poll results.
Morrison's governing coalition trails the opposition Labor Party in all opinion polls with the general elections to be held on Saturday.
Morrison has shifted towards a softer persona in the final week of the campaign, and promised to empathize a lot more if given a second term in office.
I'm honest with people. Over the last three years it's required a lot of strength to take Australia through the pandemic and we are continuing to need that strength. But what will change in the next few years is opportunities will increase.
Morrison denied the suggestion on Monday after being asked whether polls had influenced the change.
I'm honest with people. Over the last three years, it's taken a lot of strength to take Australia through the epidemic and we are continuing to need that strength, he told Seven Network television.
ALSO READ: Early voting starts in Australia with opp ahead in the polls.
Opportunities will increase in the next few years. The Labor Party is poised to win up to 85 out of 151 seats in the lower house of Parliament and form a majority government for the first time since 2010 according to polls.
Morrison faced criticism over his first home buyer affordability policy on Monday.
At the Coalition's official campaign launch on Sunday, the prime minister announced that if re-elected, the government would allow first home buyers to access up to 40 percent of their retirement fund to pay for a house.
Superannuation Minister Jane Hume, as well as experts, said the policy would drive property prices up further.
READ MORE: Most Australian voters want to take more action on climate change.
Jason Clare, Labor's housing spokesman, described the policy as throwing kerosene on a bonfire.