Leaders debate live: Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese face off in live TV debate

Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have clashed on their integrity after they were grilled on China, corruption, debt, interest rates, cost of living, power prices, climate and the economy. 

Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese went head-to-head in a heated clash before the May 21 election.

Both leaders erupted into a bitter tit-for-tat, with the debate panel silent as both leaders tore into each other over integrity.

The pair were questioned initially over why voters were disenchanted with politics, but Mr Morrison bit back when Mr Albanese said Australia needed a national integrity agency to restore faith in politics."

Given he is so passionate about this, why haven't you drafted your own legislation for such a mission?"

The Prime Minister said. But Mr Albanese said this was not right.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese.

"Scott, you don't allow debates on anything in the Parliament, let alone debates on opposition legislation," he said.

Before this, optimism and a better future were the key messages from them in their opening statements of the second leaders debate.

On the eve before pre-poll voting opened, the Prime Minister and Labor leader are making their pitch the large number of voters in Australia who remain undecided. They have been grilled on aged care, housing, China, corruption, debt, interest rates, cost of living pressures, power prices, climate and the economy. 

Australian Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison shake hands at the start of the second leaders' debate of the 2022 federal election campaign at the Nine studio in Sydney. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Albanese said a better future is "within our reach" and if Labor won government Australia would have cheaper childcare, stronger Medicare, cheaper medicines and it would be easier to see a doctor "We will have more secure work and we have a plan to lift wages," he said.

Mr Albanese was asked why a lot of people don't know him or what he stands for, and whether making himself a small target in the campaign has backfired.

He says Australians do know what he stands for.

Mr Morrison was asked why people didn't trust him.

He said he could "understand the hurt and the feelings had coming out of a time like this" before being cut off by host Chris Uhlmann who attempted to direct the Prime Minister back to the question of trust, and why people closest to him like Deputy Premier Barnaby Joyce had spoken ill of him.

After winning the first debate the Labor leader is feeling confident and will attempt to use the event to drive home his message and put a rocky week - during which he forgot his NDIS policy - behind him.

Several major campaign moments have occurred since the pair first met in Brisbane for the Sky News and Courier-Mail debate on April 20.

Mr Albanese suffered the major NDIS gaffe while Mr Morrison has been forced to defend increasing cost of living in the wake of the first interest rate rise in a decade.

Strategists from both parties acknowledge the election will be close, with a significant chunk of voters yet to make up their minds. The pair will square off again in a third leaders’ debate on Wednesday, May 11.

See how it unfolded below.

Originally published as Leaders debate live: Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese face off in live TV debate