The two biggest policies thrown at voters by Labor and the Coalition over recent days are thin and pathetic attempts to grab headlines and paper over the fact that there is, so far, very little substance to this election campaign.

Hardly out of the blocks, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised legislation to prevent price-gouging by supermarkets while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton pushed a gas preservation scheme to cut costs.

Anthony Albanese has promised laws to prevent price-gouging by supermarketsCredit: Getty Images

This febrile cost-of-living election has turned our political leaders into great friends of the consumer; both men appear happy to ignore the variegated history of their proposals and pitch hard at hip-pocket nerves.

Albanese announced at the weekend

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