‘Wedgieslation’: Anthony Albanese’s clumsy dig at Scott Morrison

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has taken a swipe at Scott Morrison while defending his signature plan for first-home buyers.

Anthony Albanese has accused Scott Morrison of growing desperate after the Prime Minister claimed interest rates “weren’t political”.

Speaking to reporters in Gosford to spruik Labor’s new housing policy, the Opposition Leader dismissed Mr Morrison’s comments.

“This is a prime minister who is getting really, really desperate and the comments are getting more and more extreme,” Mr Albanese said.

“For this guy to say that anything is not political, this is a guy who gets up in the morning and what he has for breakfast is political.”

Mr Albanese made the remarks before the Reserve Bank was due to meet to consider raising interest rates for the first time since 2010.

In a high stakes decision to be made during an election campaign, the central bank could lift rates from their historic lows of 0.1 per cent to counteract soaring inflation.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese says Scott Morrison has grown desperate. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Morrison has attempted to distance his government from the potential for financial pain —– particularly for mortgage holders – by blaming inflation on unavoidable international pressures such as the war in Ukraine.

Mr Albanese noted that Mr Morrison took his personal photographer to the Lodge with him while he was quarantining there.

He accused Mr Morrison of always thinking “how can we wedge Labor on this issue” rather than making decisions in the national interest.

“This guy, for (him) everything is an opportunity to play politics. He doesn't have legislation, he has wedgieslation.”

Labor frontbencher Jason Clare defended the party’s housing policy from accusations it would be a ‘death tax’. Picture: Liam Kidston

Labor frontbencher Jason Clare ran with Mr Albanese’s clumsy dig at the government.

“I reckon in the cabinet room there’s sour cream and sweet chilli sauce there’s so many wedges there,” Mr Clare said.

With higher interest rates looming amid Australia’s housing affordability crisis, Labor has unveiled its shared equity scheme that it says will make it easier for 10,000 people per year to buy a home.

The scheme would offer eligible first-home buyers an equity stake of up to 40 per cent in a newly purchased property.

Labor says it will enact the policy, which could save the amount people will have to pay on their mortgage by up to $380,000, if it forms government.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has distanced his government from a looming interest rate rise. Picture: Jason Edwards

The Coalition has seized on opportunities to criticise the scheme, including that it could force children to sell their parents’ home when they die if they don’t meet the eligibility criteria themselves.

Mr Clare on Tuesday said the Coalition’s claim the policy was akin to a “death tax” had “more baloney than a New York deli”.

“What we’re doing here is helping Australians to pass on their wealth to their kids rather than passing on nothing because they’re renting for the rest of their life,” Mr Clare said.

“If they qualify under the eligibility rules, everything is sweet. Nothing changes. If they earn more than that, they start to buy back the government's equity.”

Mr Clare said this aspect of the policy followed the model of the Victorian government’s own similar scheme.

“It’s the way it works: If you go from earning $90,000 to $150,000, there’s a two-year grace period and you start to pay it back,” he said.

“This is sensible. This is about helping Australians who need a little bit of help.”