PM downplays awkward air kiss as campaign heads south

Reports of a split between Anthony Albanese and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek have followed the pair since Mr Albanese beat out his left faction comrade and electoral neighbour for the Labor leadership in 2019.

The relationship hasn't been helped by the prime minister overruling Ms Plibersek to scupper a deal with the Greens to implement a federal environmental protection agency and again to introduce legislation protecting the salmon farming industry in Tasmania.

Cameras caught an awkward moment at the Labor campaign launch in Perth on Sunday, when Mr Albanese and Ms Plibersek came together for an embrace before clasping each other's hands and performing a long-distance air kiss.

When asked about the exchange, Ms Plibersek maintained the pair were still friends and she just wanted to avoid passing on a cold.

"Of course ... we're still buddies," she told Channel Seven's Sunrise program on Monday.

"I reckon we should still all be elbow bumping.

"During an election campaign, the last thing you want is to catch a cold from someone. So that's on me."

Ms Plibersek was notably absent from the prime minister's multimillion-dollar Great Barrier Reef announcement on Thursday, although she said it was because she had recently visited Cairns three times.

Mr Albanese maintained the pair were still close but refused to confirm whether the environment minister would keep her portfolio if his government was re-elected on May 3.

"Tanya Plibersek has been a friend of mine for a long period of time," he told reporters as he toured a housing development in Adelaide to spruik his party's latest first homebuyer initiative.

"We live in neighbouring seats, we're good mates, and she's doing a fantastic job."

Next stop on the campaign trail was Nonna's Cucina, a not-for-profit that prepares meals for elderly and disabled people in the marginal seat of Sturt, which Labor hopes to wrestle off the Liberals.

It was also an opportunity for Mr Albanese to lean into his Italian heritage as he helped pack containers full of vegetable slices cooked by Nonna Rosa Matto and her team of volunteers.

Nonna Matto was complimentary of the prime minister's culinary skills, but no doubt his financial support of $95,000 to help the organisation upgrade its kitchen facilities will be even more appreciated

"I am very proud of my heritage and I know that Adelaide has, like the rest of Australia, part of the Italo-Australian community that is a million-strong and has made such a contribution," Mr Albanese said.

With his community service complete, Mr Albanese hopped down to the Apple Isle where he pledged to support another disadvantaged cohort: print journalists.

At the Boyer Paper Mill on the outskirts of Hobart, Mr Albanese announced a package to keep alive Australia's last remaining producer of newsprint paper.

Asked whether it was risky to prop up a business closely linked to a declining industry newspaper distribution, the prime minister said it was important the print media continues to exist.

"I love picking up a paper. I love holding it. I love reading it," he said. 

"So do many Australians."

Up to $24 million will help electrify the mill, which runs on ageing coal boilers, and enable it to diversify its products.