Labor leader Bill Shorten has written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull asking for immediate access to the nation's top public servants, consistent with the caretaker provisions that apply in the lead-up to elections.
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But the government is unlikely to comply, arguing it has not yet called the election, and that this will only occur after the budget, when the Prime Minister visits Yarralumla for that purpose.
Undaunted, Mr Shorten has advised that he will shortly be calling the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Martin Parkinson, to arrange a meeting.
The move comes amid growing market concerns over the slow burn of the pre-election period, especially because the key post of Governor of the Reserve Bank is shortly to expire when Glenn Stevens' appointment ends.
While Deputy Governor Philip Lowe is widely expected to step up to the role, financial market analysts and Reserve Bank watchers say the formal replacement for Mr Stevens cannot be left until July after the election, meaning the opposition would need to be consulted on the selection some time during coming weeks.
Mr Shorten has challenged Mr Turnbull's interpretation that the election has not yet been called and that the caretaker period will only begin once the federal budget is delivered and Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove has dissolved both houses on the advice of the Prime Minister and issued writs for the July 2 poll.
The Opposition Leader has also said the justification for the now defunct special sitting, including the specific instruction given to MPs by the Governor-General in his opening speech reconvening Parliament following prorogation, had not even been attempted.
"Despite relying on it as a justification for the costly recall of the Parliament, the government did not even re-introduce the Registered Organisations Bill into the Senate," he wrote to Mr Turnbull.
"During question time on Tuesday, in reply to my direct question, you re-announced the election will be held on 2 July 2016: 'After the budget I will advise the Governor-General to dissolve both houses of Parliament and I will advise him to call an election on the 2nd of July…"'
Mr Shorten said that "under the guidelines for pre-election consultation with officials by the opposition, the formal "pre-election period" has now officially commenced".
"As the guidelines state: 'The pre-election period is to date from three months prior to the expiry of the House of Representatives or the date of announcement of the House of Representatives election, whichever date comes first.'
"As the formal 'pre-election period' has officially commenced with the announcement of the election date, the opposition is entitled to briefings with departmental officials, as provided for by the guidelines. I will shortly contact the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Dr Martin Parkinson PSM, to arrange a time to meet with him in relation to opposition policy.
The opposition Leader used the letter to also advise that his shadow ministers would make similar arrangements to meet relevant secretaries of departments in their portfolios.
In 2013, the Coalition used Julia Gillard's extraordinarily early declaration of the election date eight months in advance, to gain earlier access to public servants and to demand the equal broadcast rights that apply during election campaigns.
