His absence hung over the final day of campaigning, with Premier Denis Napthine and his guest, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, forced to defend his absence, as well as the controversial GP co-payment.

In less than 1500 metres of a suburban shopping strip in Bentleigh were seven politicians. The Premier and Ms Bishop walked one end of Centre Road with incumbent MP Elizabeth Miller, who is defending a margin of 0.9 per cent. Visiting a couple of salons, a small supermarket and a cafe, which was full of Ms Miller's campaign volunteers, Ms Bishop wowed the crowds and walked hand in hand with Ms Miller.

The Prime Minister was in Sydney on Friday commissioning the HMAS Canberra. Ms Bishop said Mr Abbott had visited Victoria plenty of times during the campaign, including announcing the taskforce into union corruption.

She was also forced to respond to the uncertainty over the GP co-payment, saying Cabinet was not split on the issue.

"We are committed to the co-payment. It's government policy because it makes sense and Labor knows it does, because they introduced a co-payment for the PBS," she said.

Dr Napthine was also forced to answer questions on the controversial plan, saying the plan needed to go back to the drawing board.

"I think there shouldn't be any co-payment whatsoever considered for children. I think that people who are on low incomes, there should be no cost whatsoever," he said.

The Premier also defended Mr Abbott not visiting Victoria in the final week.

Further down Centre Road, former premier Steve Bracks and federal Labor leader Bill Shorten joined Labor's candidate Nick Staikos meeting voters in the critical seat.

Mr Shorten wanted to talk about Mr Abbott, saying the Prime Minister had been "in witness protection" throughout the Victorian election.

"It just shows that Tony Abbott understands how unpopular he is," Mr Shorten said.

"Tony Abbott does not want to come to Victoria. Tony Abbott and his research shows that his unfair budget and his broken promises are not going down well in Victoria."

Mr Bracks tipped a narrow Labor victory on Saturday.

Daniel Andrews swept into Bentleigh too, but only with his wife Cath and Mr Staikos to announce a $15 million boost to SunSmart initiatives.

Like Dr Napthine, Mr Andrews had a swathe of media appearances in the morning trying to project a positive agenda.

Elsewhere, the Liberals dispatched party legend and former prime minister John Howard to the ultra-marginal seat of Yan Yean on Melbourne's northern fringe, a seat Sam Ozturk is hoping to seize off Labor, where tension was thick.

Mr Howard greeted locals in the Laurimar estate in Doreen, while being swamped by union members and Labor campaigners.

He never flinched when heckled over ambulance waiting times in the sprawling northern corridor.

He even signed a how to vote Labor card, prompting a roar of approval and a chuckle from Mr Howard.

When asked why Tony Abbott wasn't in his place, Mr Howard said: "He's busy. He's been in Parliament."

Liberal state director Damien Mantach accused union heavies of harassing Mr Howard, as well as Narre Warren North candidate Amanda Stapledon at another venue.

"This is not democracy – this is bullying, intimidation and thuggery," Mr Mantach said.

With Vanessa Desloires