Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he wanted Bill Shorten to "look me in the eye and tell me the truth" when he appeared to invade the personal space of his rival during the second televised leaders' debate.
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Labor senator Kristina Keneally on Saturday claimed the awkward encounter revealed Mr Morrison was aggressive and desperate, labelling it his "Mark Latham moment" in reference to the former Labor leader's infamous 2004 handshake with John Howard.
Mr Shorten narrowly won the wide-ranging debate, according to the studio audience of 100 undecided voters. However it was Mr Morrison's actions during a heated discussion on tax policy that provided the most memorable moment.
The pair were free to roam the stage during the contest. At one point Mr Morrison stood close to Mr Shorten while grilling him over Labor's proposed tax increases for high-income earners.
Mr Shorten stepped away and quipped that Mr Morrison was a "classic space invader".
The line prompted laughs from the crowd and the debate's host, Sky News journalist David Speers.
Asked about the encounter on Saturday, Mr Morrison said he was "simply trying to encourage [Mr Shorten] to tell the truth and to look me in the eye".
"He couldn't do that either. He scurried away," Mr Morrison said.
"Wisecracks and stunts isn't how you run a country. I'm happy for Bill Shorten to put on a cabaret performance in a debate but that's not how you run a country and that's not what Australians want to see."
Senator Keneally, who is travelling with Mr Shorten throughout the campaign, declared the encounter was Mr Morrison's "Mark Latham moment". Ms Kenneally was referring to Mr Latham's aggressive handshake with then Prime Minister John Howard on the eve of the 2004 election which many believe damaged Labor's chances.
"Last night we saw the real Scott Morrison. Not the knockabout bloke, not the daggy dad, but someone who is arrogant, aggressive and, quite frankly, desperate," Senator Keneally said.
"Last night Scott Morrison had little more than his arrogance and his climate change denialism. He also had his aggression. Quite frankly, it wasn't pretty."
SMH/The Age
