Labor’s Jim Chalmers labels Scott Morrison a ‘pathological liar’

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers has labelled the Prime Minister a “pathological liar” while defending Labor’s own scare campaign.

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers has called Scott Morrison a “pathological liar” as he defended Labor’s so-called scare campaign on cashless debit cards.

Dr Chalmers was out campaigning Sydney childcare centre on Thursday where he was asked about Labor‘s claims a Coalition government would force age pensioners onto cashless welfare cards.

Labor MPs have been fuelling concerns that elderly Australians will be required to use the controversial debit cards, which are being trialled in some regional and Indigenous communities.

Those cards are designed to stop welfare recipients spending money on alcohol and gambling and they can’t be used to withdraw cash.

Labor’s claim that age pensioners would be forced onto the card under a Coalition government has been shut down by independent seniors’ advocacy groups, Social Services Minister Anne Ruston and the Prime Minister, who has labelled it an “absolute lie”.

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers has labelled Scott Morrison a ‘pathological liar’. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Both sides of politics have engaged in campaign tactics based on contested evidence in the race to the May 21 election, with Labor also homing in on Medicare and the Coalition raising the spectre of a carbon tax and higher power bills.

Scott Morrison, out on the campaign trail with Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch, says Labor’s pension scare campaign is an ‘absolute lie’. Picture: Jason Edwards

Asked on Thursday why one of Labor’s candidates was still running with the claim despite it being “categorically false”, Dr Chalmers said it was a fact the Coalition had “speculated about extending” the cashless debit cards.

Dr Chalmers seized on the opportunity to attack Mr Morrison and his government over their track record of honesty.

“It’s the same as what they said before the 2013 election – no cuts to the pension, no cuts to the ABC or health or education,” Dr Chalmers said.

“People don’t believe this government for good reason.”

Dr Chalmers accused Mr Morrison of being a “pathological liar when it comes to these issues”.

“He was saying not that long ago there wouldn’t be increased taxes under a Liberal National government,” Dr Chalmers said.

“There are increases in the Budget they handed down last month. You can’t believe a word that he says.”

Originally published as Labor’s Jim Chalmers labels Scott Morrison a ‘pathological liar’