MELBOURNE • The leaders of Australia's two main political parties will hold an online debate for the first time in a national election campaign, ahead of federal elections on July 2.

Debate sponsors Facebook and News Corp - which is owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch - said that the debate between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten will take place on Friday.

It will be streamed in real time through Facebook Live on News Corp's Australian website news.com.au as well as Facebook. Australians will be able to submit questions for the debate, which will be hosted by a News Corp journalist.

The ruling Liberal-National coalition and opposition Labor Party have been running neck and neck in recent opinion polls, in what was originally seen as an unloseable election for Mr Turnbull.

His conservative coalition has been focusing on creating jobs and growth through moves such as cutting the corporate tax rate but Mr Turnbull's personal popularity has been waning.

The centre-left Labor opposition has been campaigning to boost spending on education and health care.

REUTERS