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Some Australian federal MPs have already packed their bags to return to Canberra for Monday's scheduled parliamentary sitting but others assume Prime Minister John Howard will call the election before next week.
Health Minister Tony Abbott said he took it for granted he would be in Canberra for parliament on Monday.
"Look, I am assuming that I will be in Canberra on Monday. Parliament is scheduled to sit, but this is, obviously, in the hands of the PM," he told ABC Radio.
"The parliament is the great democratic forum of our country.
"If parliament sits for another week or so before the election (is called) that will be another opportunity for the government and the opposition to be tested.
"People will be watching, people will be judging, what's wrong with that?"
Nationals Queensland senator Barnaby Joyce said he had already booked his flight and packed his bags for the capital.
"We are working on the premise that we arrive back at work next week," he said.
"I actually think it would be tactically good for us to go back, in any case."
But Labor MP for Lyons in central Tasmania Dick Adams said he expected Mr Howard to call the election this weekend.
"I really don't think we will be going back," he said.
"I expect the PM to call the election this weekend."
Mr Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd go to opposite sides of the country today as the phoney election campaign continues.
Mr Howard will be in Sydney where he will unveil plans to make the study of Australian history compulsory for students in Years nine and 10.
Mr Rudd is in Perth, hoping to shore up Labor's vote in the west, where the coalition is enjoying its strongest support.
Yesterday, Mr Howard hinted he had a lot more funding announcements to make before calling the election, after he promised A$2.4 billion ($2.86b)to upgrade the Pacific Highway between Sydney and Brisbane if re-elected.
Labor says the prime minister is wasting taxpayers' money on government advertising the longer he delays calling the election.
- AAP
