Politicians pray for poll success as parliament returns

Politicians are gearing up for the federal election ahead of what could be the final parliamentary sitting before it is called.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton were among a communion of federal MPs seeking the mandate of heaven at an ecumenical service at St Christopher's Cathedral on Tuesday morning.

The two men vying to lead Australia for the next three years returned to Canberra after sharpening their election pitches, both travelling across the country in January in an unofficial start to campaigning.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said he would be saying his Hail Marys for an LNP win while Mr Albanese's reading, from the First Letter of Peter, counselled those in attendance not to repay evil with evil, but instead with blessing.

"I have optimism for the year ahead, and optimism that we can create a better future for Australia if we seize the opportunities that are before us," Mr Albanese told reporters following the service.

Mr Dutton said he believed there was a mood for change in Australia.

"I am ready for the election," he said.

"I believe it'll be tough. It'll always be hard fought but I do believe that we can win."

Recent opinion polls have the coalition and Labor neck-and-neck ahead of the election, which must be held by May 17, but April 12 is firming as a possible date.

The most recent Newspoll had the coalition ahead 51-49 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

But a Roy Morgan poll on Monday showed they were 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis, likely driven by inflation figures and the prospects of a rate cut.

It means the election could result in a hung parliament, with both major parties requiring the support of minor parties and independents to form a minority government.

The prime minister is focused on sandbagging seats while the coalition would need to win an extra 21 seats to govern in majority.

With the cost of living set to be the defining issue, Mr Albanese on Monday told a Labor caucus meeting that the government knew people were under financial pressure and "we know the job is not done".

Over the next two weeks, Mr Albanese will attempt to push the remainder of his government's policy agenda through parliament.

Stronger hate crimes protections are set to be debated on Tuesday as the government responds to escalating anti-Semitic attacks.

The government is also expected to introduce legislation to guarantee access to the child care subsidy for three days a week, which would remove the current activity test model for early childhood education support.

This would mean more than 100,000 families would have access to subsidised care.

The coalition has detailed little of its agenda should it win government, save a policy to allow businesses to tax deduct lunches.

The government claimed Treasury analysis showed it would cost the federal budget $1.6 billion a year, compared to the $250 million the opposition said it would cost, according to analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office.

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor slammed the government's use of Treasury to cost an opposition policy as an "egregious politicisation of the public service".

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government had to ask Treasury to cost the policy because the coalition had not provided the costings themselves.

"Part of my job is to understand risks to the budget, and this is a very substantial risk to the budget," he said.

"This would smash the budget."