Australians headed to the polls on Saturday with most recent opinion polls predicting a close race.

The election sees opposition leader Bill Shorten vying to become the country's fifth prime minister in three years.

Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Malcolm Turnbull has urged Australians to vote for continuity and stability by re-electing his conservative coalition, which dumped the country's last prime minister, Tony Abbott, less than a year ago.

Shorten, who played a key role in his centre-left Labor Party ousting two of its own prime ministers in the space of three years, says the government remains deeply divided and that Labor is the stable option.

Global market turmoil since the Brexit vote, Australia's success in turning back asylum seeker boats, gay marriage, housing prices, corporate tax rates and union corruption have been major issues in the eight-week campaign.

Polling suggests that Labor will gain some seats in the election, but not the 21 needed to form a majority government in the 150-seat House of Representatives.

Australians headed to the polls on Saturday with most recent opinion polls predicting a close race.

The election sees opposition leader Bill Shorten vying to become the country's fifth prime minister in three years.

Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Malcolm Turnbull has urged Australians to vote for continuity and stability by re-electing his conservative coalition, which dumped the country's last prime minister, Tony Abbott, less than a year ago.

Shorten, who played a key role in his centre-left Labor Party ousting two of its own prime ministers in the space of three years, says the government remains deeply divided and that Labor is the stable option.

Global market turmoil since the Brexit vote, Australia's success in turning back asylum seeker boats, gay marriage, housing prices, corporate tax rates and union corruption have been major issues in the eight-week campaign.

Polling suggests that Labor will gain some seats in the election, but not the 21 needed to form a majority government in the 150-seat House of Representatives.

Sydney - 2 June 2016

1. Various of polling station with voters queueing

2. Campaign posters

3. Voters entering polling station

4. More of queue of voters

Australians in the UK voted on Friday ahead of the final day of polling in Australia on Saturday with the opposition leader vying to become the country's fifth prime minister in three years.

An estimated 15,000 Australians will have voted through the Australian High Commission in this election, with up to 3,000 expected today.

Global market turmoil since the Brexit vote, Australia's success in turning back asylum seeker boats, gay marriage, housing prices, corporate tax rates and union corruption have been major issues in the eight-week campaign.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged Australians to vote for continuity and stability by re-electing his conservative coalition which dumped the country's last prime minister less than a year ago.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten, who played a key role in his centre-left Labour Party ousting two of its own prime ministers in the space of three years, says the government remains deeply divided and that Labour is the stable option.

Australians in the UK voted on Friday ahead of the final day of polling in Australia on Saturday with the opposition leader vying to become the country's fifth prime minister in three years.

An estimated 15,000 Australians will have voted through the Australian High Commission in this election, with up to 3,000 expected today.

Global market turmoil since the Brexit vote, Australia's success in turning back asylum seeker boats, gay marriage, housing prices, corporate tax rates and union corruption have been major issues in the eight-week campaign.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged Australians to vote for continuity and stability by re-electing his conservative coalition which dumped the country's last prime minister less than a year ago.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten, who played a key role in his centre-left Labour Party ousting two of its own prime ministers in the space of three years, says the government remains deeply divided and that Labour is the stable option.

London – 1 July 2016

1. Pan from street to Australia High Commission

2. Sign to queue for vote reading (English) "Voting at rear"

3. Australian flag

4. Various of people waiting outside Australia High Commission

5. Various of baby in kangaroo outfit

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Watts, from Perth, visiting family in the UK:

"In a sense I think it's going to be very close as most elections are and it's a fairly good turnout here today, a bit of drizzle in London, but I suppose the better party will win tomorrow. But I'll add my vote to the process."

7. Various of queue moving forward as doors open

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Kate Middleton, from Canberra, 29 years old, in the UK on working holiday:

"Instead of waiting until everyone is terribly, terribly unhappy, we're getting to the point where like no - and change, and change, and change. I think it means we have more of chance to have a say in what's going on and yeah, I'm a huge fan of democracy in action I suppose."

9. Man handing out leaflets to people queuing

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Lloyd Williams, from Melbourne, 32 year old, travelling in the UK:

"I don't have a clue. I mean I'm travelling. I got a call from dad saying I had to vote so I'm here just voting so yeah, it doesn't really bother me to be honest at the moment, so yeah."

11. Various of queue outside, people going into commission

12. Various of ballot papers

13. People filing in home address details

14. Various of queue to pick up ballot

15. Ballot papers

16. Pan down from ceiling to election officers

17. People voting

18. Mid of queue

19. Mid of voting

20. Various of ballot boxes