Scott Morrison is arrogant and drunk on power, says Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese has sharpened his political attack on the Prime Minister’s character.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese in question time on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

Anthony Albanese has accused Scott Morrison of being un­accountable, arrogant and drunk on power as he sharpens his political attack on the Prime Minister’s character.

In a matter of public importance delivered to the House of Representatives after question time, the Opposition Leader ­declared there was a “vast gap” ­between Mr Morrison’s rhetoric and reality.

“Whenever he’s asked a question, whether in this parliament, at media conferences, whether it’s at TV interviews, there he is dodging questions like Keanu Reeves dodging bullets in The ­Matrix — except not quite as cool, it must be said,” Mr Albanese said.

“When questioned, he responds dismissively. He speaks about the Canberra bubble. He speaks about gossip. He speaks about rumours. He speaks about unsourced reports.

“He does anything but answer questions. When all else fails, he blames the media.”

Mr Albanese said the federal government’s “50-50” investment with the NSW government to ­deliver a $1bn water infrastructure package for rural and regional communities impacted by drought was actually only a 25 per cent investment because half of the commonwealth’s funding was “just a loan”.

He also hit out at the Morrison government’s rhetoric on climate change and Newstart, saying emissions were going up, not down, and a person could not live on $40 a day.

“During his visit (to the US), Scott Morrison proclaimed ‘We’re making jobs great again’. As much as we used to mock the former member for Warringah (Tony Abbott) for his slogans, at least they were original,” Mr Albanese said.

“The closest this government has come to a concrete achievement was leaking its talking points to the press gallery … Those talking points leave us with more questions, but if it’s answers you’re looking for, don’t look towards this Prime Minister because he’s not prepared to be accountable.

“He’s drunk on power after the 18th of May and he’s arrogant.”

The attack in the House of Representatives comes just weeks after Mr Albanese began targeting Mr Morrison’s character, declaring he was “loose with the truth”.

At Labor’s caucus meeting earlier on Tuesday, Mr Albanese said the “gloss” from the “showman of a prime minister” was drifting away as household debt climbed and Australia’s economic growth was downgraded.

The focus on Mr Morrison comes as Labor grapples with its election loss, and fierce internal debate over its climate change and tax-and-spend agenda.