‘Fess up’: Albanese brutal comeback to question about cost of living

An attempt to land a ‘gotcha’ moment on the Prime Minister has backfired as the Coalition adjusts to life on opposition benches.

Anthony Albanese has fired back at the Opposition after they demanded he “fess up” to dumping an election promise to cut power prices.

The Coalition once again seized on the rising cost of living in their attacks on the government during question time.

Of particular focus was a commitment to slash electricity prices by $275.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley asked whether the Prime Minister would “fess up” and correct his mistake, referencing Mr Albanese’s mea culpa after he could not name the cash rate on the campaign.

“Prime Minister, in April when you were caught not knowing the cash rate you said … ‘When I make a mistake, I will fess up to it and I will set about correcting that mistake. I won't blame someone else. I will accept responsibility, that is what leaders do’,” she began.

Sussan Ley questioned whether the Prime Minister would “fess up”.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“Prime Minister, given you've dumped your promise to cut power bills by $275, will you fess up and correct your mistake?”

Mr Albanese laughed as he stepped up to the dispatch box, wondering aloud about the “irony” of the question, given she stepped down as health minister amid an expenses scandal in 2017.

“But now she’s back,” he told the house.

The opposition promptly cried out that Mr Albanese’s answer was “inappropriate” given it was a reflection on the member.

Mr Albanese used the question to lash the deputy Liberal leader.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

New Speaker Milton Dick responded by firmly asking the Prime Minister to address the question at hand.

He continued by launching into an attack on the previous government for keeping Australians “in the dark” by deliberately hiding a March report that found an increase in the default price was expected on July 1.

“It is a simple principle here and everyone understands and no amount of bluster from those opposite will replace their failure over a decade of inaction,“ Mr Albanese said.

It is the second time in as many days the government has made reference to Mr Albanese’s campaign blunder in an attempt to land a hit on the Prime Minister.

Mr Albanese refused to engage in the Coalition’s attempts to react his election disaster.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Angus Taylor tried his luck at the ‘gotcha’ later in the piece after the Reserve Bank lifted rates by half a per cent.

The Prime Minister refused to engage, telling the shadow treasury spokesman the decision had been taken the same as the past three months.

Meanwhile, new backbencher Scott Morrison took residence in his new position in the far back corner of the house.

Several times throughout proceedings the former prime minister and his seat neighbour Alex Hawke broke out into laughter as they gossiped about the events unfolding before them.

At one point the pair got a case of the giggles, which the ever composed Mr Morrison was able to contain much better than his longtime friend and ally.

Originally published as ‘Fess up’: Albanese brutal comeback to question about cost of living