Leaked text messages show Gladys Berejiklian did call Scott Morrison ‘horrible person’ after he denied it on 7.30

A second leaked text message suggests Gladys Berejiklian believed the PM was more concerned with politics than lives during the 2020 bushfires.

A second text from former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has slammed the Prime Minister as being more concerned with “petty pointscoring” than human lives at the height of the deadly 2020 bushfires.

The texts, sent from Ms Berejiklian to a mystery colleague within the party, were then sent to Channel 10 journalist Peter van Onselen, and saw the former Premier call Mr Morrison a “horrible, horrible person”.

The full exchange includes Ms Berejiklian saying: “Morrison is a horrible horrible person. He is actively spreading lies and briefing against me re the fires,’’ the text message reads.

The recipient of the text, which the Channel 10 political editor says was a cabinet minister, replies: “Morrison is about Morrison. Complete psycho. He is desperate and jealous. The mob have worked him out and he is a fraud.”

A second screenshot obtained by news.com.au shows the conversation continued, with Ms Berejiklian going on to say: “Thx. I’m just so so disappointed. Lives are at stake today and he is just obsessed with petty political pointscoring. So disappointed and gutted.”

Screenshots of a leaked text conversation between former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and a cabinet minister have been revealed.

A second message from Gladys Berejiklian that accuses the PM of being more concerned with political "pointscoring" than human lives was obtained by news.com.au on Tuesday.

When confronted about the “horrible, horrible person” text by host Leigh Sales on ABC’s 7.30 on Tuesday night, the Prime Minister interjected, saying: “Which she denies, by the way.’

His claim was quickly rebutted by Mr van Onselen, who shared Ms Berejiklian’s initial text to Twitter, saying it proved the Prime Minister’s claim was “an out and out lie”.

“The Prime Minister just told ABC 7.30 Gladys Berejiklian ‘denies’ the ‘horrible, horrible person’ text. That is an out and out lie,’’ he said.

Ms Berejiklian never categorically denied the exchange. She said she did not recall sending the message and praised the Prime Minister in a statement after the embarrassing leak.

The full exchange includes Ms Berejiklian saying: “Morrison is a horrible horrible person. He is actively spreading lies and briefing against me re the fires.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and. Prime Minister Scott Morrison. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

The recipient of the text, which the Channel 10 political editor says was a cabinet minister, replies: “Morrison is about Morrison. Complete psycho. He is desperate and jealous. The mob have worked him out and he is a fraud.”

The private texts first surfaced when van Onselen confronted the Prime Minister at the national press club.

“I’ve been provided with a text message exchange between the former NSW premier and a current Liberal cabinet minister. I’ve got them right here,’’ he said.

“In one, she describes you as ‘a horrible, horrible person’, going on to say she did not trust you and you’re more concerned with politics than people,” van Onselen told the Prime Minister. “The minister is even more scathing, describing you as a ‘fraud’ and ‘a complete psycho’. Does this exchange surprise you? And what do you think that it tells us?”

Mr Morrison responded: “Well, I don’t know who you’re referring to or the basis of what you’ve put to me. But I obviously don’t agree with it, and I don’t think that is my record,” he said.

In a statement at the time, Ms Berejiklian did not categorically deny sending the text but said she did not recall it.

“I understand there has been some commentary today concerning myself and the PM. I have no recollection of such messages,’’ she said.

“Let me reiterate my very strong support for Prime Minister Morrison and all he is doing for our nation during these very challenging times.

“I also strongly believe he is the best person to lead our nation for years to come.”

Scott Morrison on 7.30. Credit: ABC

Van Onselen has previously stated the minister screenshot his exchange with Ms Berejiklian on the day he received it to “inform his commentary” and show him how furious the Liberal Party was with the PM.

The journalist said he was given the texts on the proviso he not report the full contents. However, he later secured the consent of the minister in 2022.

Sales and Mr Morrison traded barbs in Tuesday night’s interview, which began with a “rude” question – is the Prime Minister’s biggest problem staring at him in the mirror?

As the Prime Minister prepares to visit the Governor-General and call an election within days, the 7.30 host asked if the biggest threat to the government, given the economy was doing relatively well, was Scott Morrison’s unpopularity.

“Let me put it to you … that there can only be one factor that’s playing into the negative sentiment towards your coalition and that without sounding rude has to be you?,’’’ Sales said.

She then read a “long list” of people who said the Prime Minister was a bully, a liar and a “horrible, horrible person.”

In response, the Prime Minister said those attacking him were simply disgruntled for their own reasons.

“People are always disappointed and they’ll have an axe to grind. That’s normal in politics, particularly when you’re going into an election,’’ he said.

The Prime Minister then insisted he had always stood against the Liberal factions, prompting Sales to interject, “come on!.”

“I’ve never had time for the factional games in the Liberal Party. You get plenty of enemies,’’ he said.

“When you don’t let people bully their way into getting the outcomes that they want.”

Mr Morrison insisted he had intervened in the NSW preselection to protect the women on his team who faced challenges.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian bump elbows (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“Sussan Ley, one of my finest cabinet ministers and one of our most successful women in parliament, was under threat,’’ he said.

“She was under threat from factions within the Liberal Party and I stood up. I’m very serious.”

“I’m asked all the time why won’t the Prime Minister do more about getting good women in parliament and stand up for the women. I stood up for the women in my team.”

Earlier, the NSW MLC Catherine Cusack accused the Prime Minister of abandoning flood victims out of “pettiness” with the NSW Perrottet Government.

“Scott Morrison is practised at bullying and getting his own way,’’ she said.

“We are in the middle of a massive catastrophe here in the Northern Rivers. So outrageous, it’s just outrageous. It is so petty. He’s obviously not happy with the New South Wales Government.”