Malcolm Turnbull has warned of the dangers of voting for independents and minor parties as he unveiled $416 million in new spending at the coalition's official campaign launch.
The prime minister also took aim at Labor leader Bill Shorten's scare campaign on Medicare "privatisation" saying it showed the opposition was "unfit to govern".
About 500 Liberal and Nationals faithful, including former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott, gathered for the launch in the inner-western Sydney seat of Reid, less than a week out from polling day.
Mr Turnbull paid tribute to Mr Howard as setting the "gold standard" for government, and Mr Abbott - the man he ousted in September 2015 - as a "powerful and dedicated advocate for our cause".
He warned of "havoc" if the election delivered another Labor-Greens-independent minority government, which would "put at risk living standards" especially in the face of global uncertainty.
Such a government could come about if voters in "20 or so key battleground seats" did not elect a coalition MP.
"The opportunities have never been greater, but so is the competition, so are the uncertainties," Mr Turnbull said.
"The shockwaves in the past 48 hours from Britain's vote to leave the European Union are a sharp reminder of the volatility in the global economy."
The prime minister also zeroed in on the Senate election, warning voters may know the names "Lambie, Xenophon, Lazarus and Hanson" but not their policies or candidates.
Mr Turnbull said while Labor was frightening people with its Medicare campaign, it was also prosecuting an "anti-business, anti-growth agenda".
"That's not an alternative government - that's an opposition unfit to govern," he said.
Among the new policies was $192 million for mental health initiatives, including 12 suicide prevention sites around the country.
There is a $48 million pledge to boost the Smith Family's Learning for Life program for disadvantaged students and $31 million to encourage more women into science and maths careers.
A $50 million program will help seniors improve their digital literacy skills.
Addressing the perennial issue of law and order, Mr Turnbull announced a $64 million crackdown on firearms trafficking, including more resources for law enforcement and minimum sentences for some gun crimes.
The prime minister briefly mentioned climate change in the context of Labor's proposed carbon pricing scheme which would lead to "massive hikes in electricity prices", but did not raise the issue of same-sex marriage.
Mr Howard told reporters later: "I thought it was just right".
"I'm sure he will do a great job when he's prime minister," the former Liberal leader said.
