In his budget response, Labor leader Anthony Albanese pledged to act on climate change and “seize the chance to make our country a renewable energy superpower”.

Speaking on Thursday, the centerpiece of Mr Albanese’s campaign budget response was a $2.5 billion commitment to improve the aged care sector.

“I’m announcing Labour’s plan to return safety, dignity, quality and humanity to aged care,” Mr Albanese said.

"The global pandemic and the Royal Commission have confirmed what so many Australians already knew - our aged care system is in crisis," he continued.

But Mr Albanese also promised to "end the climate wars".

Accusing the Liberal government of "seeking division," he promised to bring people together and deliver real policy reform.

Climate change is one front he plans to tackle.

"Climate change is here and the consequences are devastating," Mr Albanese said.

Labour's Powering Australia plan, unveiled late last year, aims to cut emissions across the economy by 43 per cent by 2030. and net zero emissions by 2050.

Speaking of Today's show on Friday, Albanese said his climate change policy would create 604,000 new jobs by 2030.

“It is fully appreciated, there for all to see. And it will lead to $52 billion in additional private sector investment. This will lead to growth due to cleaner and cheaper energy powering high-value manufacturing,” he said.

Labor's climate plan was previously hailed as "sensible and workable" by the Business Council of Australia.

"Labour's plan outlines the path to net zero by helping to give businesses the certainty they need to continue the work they already do and do even more," Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott said in December.

"The targets are not enough on their own, so it's great to see Labor putting together a plan to achieve the target with a focus on more jobs, more opportunities and stronger regions."

Also on Thursday, Mr Albanese pledged to create a Disaster Preparedness Fund "because Australians deserve a plan to mitigate the increasingly intense impact of natural disasters".

He also talked about revitalizing Australian manufacturing and powering that manufacturing with Australian renewable energy.

“Resource exports will always be important to Australia's economy.

"But we also need to use our resources - like our minerals and rare earth elements - to make products like batteries here, instead of just shipping them out to sea and importing the finished goods."

Australians are likely to head to the polls in May, with climate change and the cost of living expected to be key issues for voters.

Maja Garatsa Djurdjevic

Maya's career in journalism spans more than a decade in finance, business and politics. Already an experienced editor and reporter in all elements of the financial services sector, before joining Momentum Media, Maya reported for several established news outlets in South East Europe, looking at key processes in post-conflict societies.