Australians will soon find out who is vying for a spot in federal parliament at the upcoming election.
The Australian Electoral Commission will declare candidates at midday on Wednesday, 24 hours after the deadline for people to put their hand up.
A number of Liberals and one National candidate have already been forced out of the race over concerns they failed section 44 of the constitution, which governs eligibility for parliament.
In 2017 and 2018 a number of federal MPs were forced to quit parliament after it was revealed they were dual citizens and therefore ineligible under section 44.
Despite this, none of the major parties have committed to holding a referendum to change the laws.
But a new law will force all candidates to declare their eligibility on forms which will be made public before early voting starts.
A record 16,424,248 Australians are enrolled to vote in the 2019 election, after almost 100,000 people signed up in the week before the close of rolls.
The election campaign continues, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Darwin.
He attended a memorial for the Sri Lanka bomb blast victims in Darwin on Tuesday night, while on Wednesday the NT News says he will visit the US Marines based in the city.
He'll announce more funds for veterans, including building wellness centres in Darwin, Townsville, Adelaide, Perth, Nowra and Wodonga.
He had spent Tuesday in Adelaide alongside Liberal MP for Boothby Nicolle Flint and candidate for Mayo Georgina Downer.
The coalition also promised to kickstart a $100 million Australian business growth fund which it hopes that banks and superannuation funds will add to, although only NAB is on-board so far.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten spent Tuesday in the regional Queensland seats of Flynn and Dawson, promising to overhaul skilled worker visas so employers don't overlook locals in favour of cheap overseas labour.
Labor also pledged to scrap a controversial $5 billion northern Australia infrastructure fund set up by the coalition government.
Meanwhile, former foreign minister Julie Bishop has raised some eyebrows with a chance encounter with Liberal turncoat Julia Banks at a restaurant on the Mornington Peninsula, according to the Herald Sun.
Ms Bishop was spending the Easter holidays in the area, which is in the seat of Flinders that the now-independent Ms Banks is trying to win from Health Minister Greg Hunt.
Australian Associated Press
