‘Garbage’: Wild debate between Clare O’Neil and Michael Sukkar erupts on TV

ABC host Sarah Ferguson struggled to pull the duo into line when their appearance on 7.30 descended into an ugly screaming match.

Housing Minister Clare O’Neil has sensationally declared that the government looked at “every option” including changes to negative gearing before ruling it out in a wild debate that descended into a screaming match.

Despite the Prime Minister insisting it was “not true” that Treasury modelling was commissioned last year, Ms O’Neil suggested a different story on Thursday night during an appearance on the ABC’s 7.30 program.

“Sarah. I’m not going to get into the details of it,” the Labor frontbencher replied.

“But what I will tell you, Sarah, is that I think the real outrage here would be that a government didn’t look at every option, given how bad things are for housing in our country today.”

Liberal Housing Minister Michael Sukkar. Picture: ABC/7.30

Labor Housing Minister Clare O'Neil. Picture: ABC/7.30

Earlier, host Sarah Ferguson had asked her, “Were you involved with the Treasury or any department of the federal government to look at and provide advice on what would happen if there were changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax?”

“Well, the Treasurer’s talked about this,” Ms O’Neil replied.

“Yes. Was his request to the department to look at this and were you part of that decision?” Ferguson asked.

The Treasurer claimed this week that he asked for “a view” from the Treasury on negative gearing but that he didn’t commission modelling.

Ms O’Neil then pointed out the Liberal Party had considered changes as well.

“And indeed, we know Malcolm Turnbull revealed today that the former Liberal government looked at the option too,” Ms O’Neil said.

“Labor is itching to abolish negative gearing,’’ Liberal Housing Minister Michael Sukkar then interjected.

“The Prime Minister lied to the Australian people last night.”

Ferguson then asked, “Can I just explain that to the audience? Malcolm Turnbull said in his memoir, said you and Scott Morrison wanted to absolutely change negative gearing.”

Mr Sukkar said this was absolutely false and a fiction.

“Malcolm Turnbull is lying?” Ferguson asked.

Host Sarah Ferguson attempted to diffuse the ministers’ argument as it descended into chaos. Picture: ABC/7.30

The ugly political brawl over housing policy descended into a shouting match, forcing Ferguson to tell two brawling MPs “we are not at the pub”.

At one point, she scolded a Liberal frontbencher telling him, “What would your mother say?” about his constant interruptions.

“I’ve been interrupted the whole time,’’ Mr Sukkar shot back.

The nationally-televised debate descended into farce from that moment onwards as Ferguson attempted to control the MPs who constantly talked over the top of each other.

“Michael, Michael, Michael,” Ferguson said at one point.

“Alright, that’s it, you’re not answering the question,” the 7.30 host said during another exchange over how many social and affordable houses the Liberal Party will build, before cutting him off.

“What would your mother say, hearing you interrupt her?” she then scolded him during another exchange.

Ms O’Neil, who said she was “unflappable”, then told viewers that the Liberal Party’s record was “garbage” and Mr Sukkar was “telling fibs”.

As the debate again descended into shouting, the host urged both MPs to remember they were not at the pub.

“We are not in a public house. Let’s move on,” Ferguson said.

Anthony Albanese’s $4 million clifftop mansion on the NSW Central Coast. Picture: Realestate.com.au

The property is now the site of a one-man protest over the housing crisis. Picture: X

Albo protest

Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese’s $4 million clifftop mansion is now the site of a one-man protest over the housing crisis.

The protest is being led by the dad who broke down on national TV after struggling to pay rent while juggling two jobs.

Morgan Cox has set up his tent outside Mr Albanese’s mansion on the NSW Central Coast and erected a large sign that says “Everyone deserves a home Albo!!! Costoflivingcasualties.com.au. Tell your story.”

“I’m here at Albo’s $4.5 million mansion, we’ve just turned down his $100 million road, we’re here on behalf of 3.5 million Australians who are struggling, who are in poverty, (who are) facing homelessness,” Mr Cox said in a social media post.

“All we want is to be heard, all we want is for politicians to listen to us.

“Everyone deserves a home Albo.”

The father-of-three made headlines with his story on ABC’s Q+A in March. Picture: ABC

Morgan Cox has set up his tent outside Mr Albanese’s mansion on the NSW Central Coast. Picture: X

The father-of-three made headlines with his story on ABC’s Q+A in March when he revealed that his family had been forced out of Sydney by soaring rent costs.

“I recently got a rent increase notice for an additional $180 a week, which works out to be about $10,000 a year,” Mr Cox said.

“I tried to find a cheaper place and there just aren’t any. What little is available, there’s dozens of people lined up. Lots of them are immigrants and they have plenty more money than I can possibly get.

“I’m already working two jobs. One more rent increase and my family, my one-year-old baby, we’re facing homelessness and we’ve got nowhere to go. My family has already been forced out of Sydney for the same reasons.

“I want to know is the government going to cut immigration to match housing availability or are we just going to keep going until every regular working Australian is homeless?”