“There might be Chinese spies that are, you know, handing out for you,” Hume said to Clare O’Neil on Channel Seven’s Sunrise on Wednesday, with no evidence for her claim. “But for us, there’s dozens, thousands, hundreds of young people that are out there handing out how-to-vote cards for the Liberal Party because they want a better life.”

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In video ads on WeChat and RedNote, social media apps widely used by the Chinese diaspora, Wong says: “Hume accused Chinese volunteers in the federal election of being Chinese spies.

“We’ve seen this before from the Liberal Party. Why is it that the Liberal Party continues to question the loyalty of Chinese Australians?” Wong says in the clip. She goes on to argue that Dutton had “weaponised” Australia’s relationship with China and was only taking a softer stance because he was seeking Chinese Australians’ votes.

Wong then cites a passage in Chinese, which translated into English states: “While mountains and rivers can be changed, one’s nature is difficult to alter.”

Hume and the party were contacted for comment on Friday.

Albanese started the morning speaking from the hallowed turf of the MCG on what is the grand final day of federal politics, before heading to the Liberal-held eastern suburbs seat of Menzies.

Menzies has one of the largest Chinese-speaking populations in the country. Liberal incumbent Keith Wolahan won with a wafer-thin margin after Chinese Australians swung against the Morrison government, which talked tough about the potential for future conflict with China.

Wolahan has gone to great lengths to build ties with Chinese Australians and was the Australian politician with the greatest reach on Chinese social media apps during this term of parliament.

An authorised sign in Chinese was spotted in the electorate. It said: “If Morrison disappointed you, Dutton will be even worse. Supporting Keith Wolahan is supporting Dutton. Make a wise choice for your future, and for Australia’s future.”

Wong’s video, her presence in Menzies, and Albanese’s last-minute stop in the seat highlights Labor’s belief it can offset other loses in Victoria – particularly in the previously safe Liberal seat of Aston – with a win in Menzies, which is closer to the CBD and more multicultural.

Wolahan, a former barrister and special forces soldier, is seen as a rising star in the party and has aligned himself with the moderate grouping.

Ng, the Labor candidate, received next to no money from Labor headquarters until about a fortnight ago. Until then, Labor felt it was on the defensive in Melbourne due to the unpopularity of the state Labor government.

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Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have been criss-crossing Melbourne on election morning, reflecting the new-found importance of Victoria, where more than half a dozen seats are in play.

After visiting the former blue-ribbon seat of Goldstein, Dutton visited the safe Labor seat of Gorton in the working-class outer suburbs.

Dutton is projecting confidence in the face of widespread expectations of a loss tonight. He will end his day in Brisbane and Albanese will finish in Sydney.

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