Like a chipmunk, Labor MP says of Turnbull

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been likened to a chipmunk in comparison to Tony Abbott who was the "Cujo of attack dogs".

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been likened to a chipmunk over his scare campaign against Labor's negative gearing policy.

Opposition frontbencher Ed Husic says the coalition once had in Tony Abbott the "Cujo of attack dogs" - referring to the rabid dog in a Stephen King novel.

"Now they've replaced (him) with the Alvin and the Chipmunks variety in Malcolm Turnbull (and) he doesn't have it in him to do this kind of thing," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.