WHERE THE LEADERS CAMPAIGNED

* Prime Minister Scott Morrison: Started in Darwin for Anzac dawn service before heading to Townsville.

* Labor leader Anthony Albanese: From COVID isolation at his home in Sydney. Labor deputy leader Richard Marles represented Mr Albanese at the Darwin dawn service.

WHAT THE COALITION WANTED TO TALK ABOUT

* A crime-tackling investment of $14 million in Alice Springs to improve CCTV, fund local diversionary activities, support more community patrols and a new Head to Health centre to improve access to mental health services.

WHAT LABOR WANTED TO TALK ABOUT

* A $500 million commitment to fix the veterans affairs crisis in response to issues raised during the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

WHAT MADE NEWS:

* Both the prime minister and Labor deputy leader attended the dawn service at Darwin, along with other Anzac Day commemorations.

* Defence Minister Peter Dutton attracted attention for saying the only way to preserve peace is to "prepare for war".

* Embattled Liberal candidate for Warringah Katherine Deves revealed she had received death threats and police were involved, although NSW police said no reports had been made.

* Labor accused the government of bungling its handling of issues in the Pacific following the Solomon Islands signing a security pact with China.

WHAT THEY SAID:

"The only way that you can preserve peace is to prepare for war."

- Defence Minister Peter Dutton on how to prevent conflict in the Pacific following the Solomon Islands signing a security pact with China.

"Words are one thing, action is what matters, and this is a government which repeatedly fails."

- Richard Marles speaking about Australia's relations with the Solomon Islands and other Pacific nations.

TWEETED:

"US president Teddy Roosevelt famously said that in international affairs, it's best to 'speak softly and carry a big stick'. Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton have it the wrong way round. They talk loud, but only carry a twig."

- SA independent Senator Rex Patrick on Solomon Islands deal.

Australian Associated Press