Scott Morrison has called for more civilised disagreement and an end to "ugly" protests during the election campaign after he had an egg thrown at him and Tony Abbott had faeces left on his doorstep.
The prime minister received sympathy from Labor leader Bill Shorten, who described the actions of the egg throwing protester as "appalling and disgraceful" behaviour.
A 24-year-old Victorian woman has been charged with common assault and possessing a prohibited drug after she allegedly hit Mr Morrison on the head with an egg.
He was campaigning at a Country Women's Association event in Albury in NSW when the egg hit his head and rolled off unbroken.
"There was one individual who came along today, who I think the CWA could give a really good idea about what you're supposed to do with eggs," he later joked with Liberal supporters at a rally.
Mr Abbott was also targeted on Tuesday, with faeces hidden inside a book dumped outside the former prime minister's electorate office in northern Sydney.
The book had the word "unpopular" written on the cover and comes as Mr Abbott - who has held Warringah since 1994 - faces a tough fight against independent candidate Zali Steggall.
"We've just got to disagree better about things," Mr Morrison said.
"Just because you have a difference of view to someone doesn't mean you have to engage in these sort of ugly types of protests ... we are civilised people."
Mr Morrison helped a woman to her feet after she was knocked over in the egging incident.
The attack came after Mr Morrison announced a plan to eliminate mobile phone blackspots in an area larger than the size of South Australia.
Campaigning in Geelong, where he was aiming to talk about regional hospital funding, Mr Shorten backed his Liberal counterpart.
"This is completely unacceptable and the prime minister has my complete sympathy, and of course, the lady who got knocked down in the process," Mr Shorten said.
On the policy front, Mr Shorten promised to put an extra $900 million into public hospitals over the next six years if Labor wins the May 18 election.
Meanwhile, the latest Essential poll published on Tuesday gave Labor a 52-48 lead over the coalition in two-party terms.
Asked about the overall policy packages being presented, 46 per cent cited Labor and 36 per cent backed the coalition, with 18 per cent unsure.
However, Mr Morrison is ranked as the better prime minister by 42 per cent of voters, as against 31 per cent for Mr Shorten.
The leaders will meet on Wednesday night for the third and final televised debate of the campaign, at the National Press Club in Canberra.
Asked whether he would repeat the infamous "space invader" move on Mr Shorten, as occurred in the second debate, Mr Morrison told 2GB Radio: "The only space he's going to invade is people's wallets, mate."
