'No need to get nasty!' Prime Minister Scott Morrison gets burned by fiery Bill Shorten during final debate – as the Labor leader reveals he doesn't believe in Hell and tries VERY awkwardly to mansplain a meme
- Bill Shorten and Scott Morrison faced off in the third and final leaders debate
- Federal opposition leader stole the show and upstaged the Prime Minister
- Mr Shorten said he doesn't believe in hell while addressing Israel Folau saga
A fired up Bill Shorten stole the show in the third and final leaders' debate against Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday evening.
Held at the National Press Club in Canberra, the two leaders faced off for the last time before voters go to the polls on May 18.
In a series of testy exchanges, Mr Morrison tried to put his rival on the spot several times throughout the hour long debate, only to be upstaged by Mr Shorten.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten stole the stage during the third and final leaders' debate
The prime minister came off second best after asking Mr Shorten who will be the Home Affairs minister if Labor win the election.
'If you win you'll have more people to promote because so many of your current ministry is leaving,' Mr Shorten hit back.
'No need to get nasty,' Mr Morrison jokingly replied before adding 'It was just a joke, Smile Bill!
It didn't go down well with Mr Shorten.
'I'm sorry if you think that so many of your people leaving is the source of great amusement. I think it's more a judgement on the Government,' he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison tried to put his rival on the spot, only to be upstaged
The ongoing Israel Folau saga was one of the hot topics.
While Mr Morrison said he wanted to ensure Australians can always be free to believe in what they want, Mr Shorten admitted he's unsure is hell exists.
'I don't think if you're gay you're going to go to hell,' he said.
'I don't know if hell exists actually. But I don't think if it does that being gay is what sends you there. So I am uneasy. On the Folau matter I'm also uneasy if he has genuinely held views and he could suffer some sort of really significant penalty.'
When asked about social media in public life, Mr Shorten went off track with his awkward explanation of a meme featuring former US First Lade Michelle Obama.
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'I don't always read my Twitter feed. I saw very funny cartoon, a meme of Michelle Obama. Barack Obama's looking at a computer screen and Michelle is saying, 'Don't read that. Just go to bed.' Good advice there I suspect,' Mr Shorten said.
The leaders were asked about a wide range of topics from unpopular decisions to climate change and tax to budget deficits and leader instability.
But not everything went Mr Shorten's way as he repeatedly dodged questions from Mr Morrison's about Labor costings and said that the party's full costing would be released on Friday.
There were a few testy exchanges when Bill Shorten and Scott Morrison faced off
'That's a bit of a cop out,' debate moderator Sabra Lane said.
Mr Shorten argued the Liberals released their costings two days before the 2016 election and three days before in the 2013 election.
The prime minister also came under fire from the moderator when he said the budget was already in surplus.
'I said we brought the budget back to surplus next year,' he replied when Ms Lane pointed out the surplus wasn't for the current financial year.
Mr Shorten was also questioned about his role in removing prime ministers in the past.
'I think we need one more change of PM and then we can finish it for a while,' Mr Shorten quipped.
The two leaders shook hands and smiled for the cameras before the debate began
