Labor has been spruiking its cost-of-living relief efforts ahead of the budget on Tuesday, announcing a $150 energy bill rebate in an extension of the $300 subsidy offered in the previous budget.
Addressing Labor parliamentarians in a caucus meeting on Monday, the prime minister drew contrasts between his government's policies and the coalition's, vowing he would deliver for working people.
"We are unashamed to stand for workers receiving their entitlements and cost-of-living relief," he said.
"This budget will build on strong foundations.
"We are kicking with the wind because we have a coherent set of values that are about that."
The cost of living will be the defining issue of the election campaign, with voters to be asked who they will be better off under.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has labelled the energy plan a "Ponzi scheme" but said the coalition would support the measure, drawing criticism from the government.
"The rhetoric that they use in attacking this means that they can't be secure," Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
"Having opposed all of these things for almost three years - just to have said 'yes' - they've got to have something to say about policy and they don't have any of their own.
"I look forward to some policy ... coming out sometime between now and May."
Mr Dutton is promising a major announcement in Thursday's budget reply speech with immigration and housing likely to be areas of focus.
Recent migration intakes had forced Australians out of the housing market while not enough homes were being built, Mr Dutton claimed.
"It's meant that people are lining up for longer and paying more for rental properties," he said.
"It means that Australians have just given up on the dream of home ownership."
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has declined to say whether the coalition will stick with its previously-outlined target of reducing net overseas migration by 25 per cent.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government was "managing" migration down and recent figures showed about 10,000 fewer people had arrived than anticipated.
"The budget will update all of those forecasts but what they will show overall is the trajectory is down," he told Sky News.
The opposition is expected to take public service cuts, nuclear power and tax deductions to the election with the prime minister widely tipped to visit the governor-general by Sunday to fire the starting gun for an early May poll.
Recent YouGov polling showed Mr Albanese consolidating his lead as preferred prime minister, but still predicted a tight election with voters evenly split between Labor and the coalition once preferences are factored in.
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