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	Turnbull, whose Liberal-National coalition is running neck-and-neck in opinion polls with the centre-left Labour opposition, visited Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove in the capital, Canberra, to seek the dissolution of both houses of parliament.</div>
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	He told a media conference Australians faced a clear choice:&quot;To stay the course, maintain the commitment to our national economic plan for growth and jobs, or go back to Labour with its higher taxing, higher spending, debt-and-deficit agenda.&quot;</div>
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	The official start to the two-month election campaign was widely expected after Turnbull confirmed on Wednesday he would seek a July 2 poll to cash in on a budget plan outlined the day before aimed at creating jobs and spurring growth.</div>
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	- Reuters&nbsp;</div>

Australian PM Turnbull formally calls July 2 election

SYDNEY - Australia will go to the polls on July 2 after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called an election that will likely focus on the flagging economy and hot-button issues like the country's tough asylum seeker policy.