But while the spirit of former Labor giants have cast a warm glow over opposition leader Bill Shorten, Prime Minister Scott Morrison's campaign has been haunted by those who went before him.

There was nothing subtle about Mr Shorten's choice of venue on Thursday as he delivered one final rallying cry to the party faithful.

While Mr Morrison was addressing the National Press Club in Canberra, Mr Shorten ventured into Sydney to the Bowman Hall in Blacktown.

It's a sacred site for Labor, the hall where Gough Whitlam launched the famous "It's time" campaign on the way to electoral victory in 1972.

Mr Shorten is no Gough, but he delivered a rousing performance to ensure plenty of momentum for the campaign's final days.

Just hours later, news came through that the greatest Labor leader of them all, the charismatic Bob Hawke, had died peacefully at his home just two days out from the election.

Like Mr Shorten, Mr Hawke began as a union leader before entering parliament. Mr Shorten hopes that's not where the comparisons end.

His passing on Thursday will remind voters of a certain era when politics was more colourful and leaders more daring. And those fond memories could only work in Mr Shorten and Labor's favour on Saturday.

By contrast, Mr Morrison could have done without the ghosts of former PMs Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull haunting his campaign.

Mr Morrison and the Coalition have tried to distance themselves from the leadership chaos that has defined this government but Mr Abbott and Mr Turnbull have been constant reminders of that turmoil.

Mr Abbott is in the fight of his political life to hold his once-safe seat of Warringah and if he loses on Saturday there appears no chance of Mr Morrison remaining in The Lodge.

Mr Turnbull is not campaigning at this election, but nor has he been quiet. And every time his name is mentioned it does Mr Morrison no good at all.

As Australian voters elect a leader for the future it's been impossible to ignore the leaders of the past.

What a strange campaign it has been.