Parasite. Hypocrite. Social-climbing sycophant.
Malcolm Turnbull has hurled a blizzard of insults at Bill Shorten this week, but one barb is a bridge too far for his opposite number.
"Neil, Neil, Neil, Neil, Neil, Neil, you're trying to put words in my mouth," he told 3AW's Neil Mitchell on Friday when asked if the Labor leader was a crook.
However, the prime minister was more than happy to continue his venomous assault on "hypocrite" Mr Shorten.
"The fact is if you want to stand up, like Shorten, and play the politics of envy and go on and pretend you're some horny-handed son of toil that's worked his way up from the bottom and always battled for the common man and stood up to the rich and powerful, then you better be fair dinkum," Mr Turnbull said.
"And he isn't, he isn't. He's a fake."
The prime minister insisted he did not dislike Mr Shorten before again accusing him of selling out workers and sucking up to billionaires.
"I'm not a hater. I don't develop personal animosities towards people, but it is important to show him up for the hypocrite he is."
Mr Turnbull was also asked if he shared Donald Trump and Pauline Hanson's admiration for Vladimir Putin.
No, he replied, pointing out the Russian president had invaded the Crimea and backed forces that downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which killed 38 Australians.
"Russia is a reality and we have to deal with all the great powers but I would not regard Vladimir Putin as a role model at all," he said.
Labor has declared the "gloves are off" as the prime minister steps up his attack on Mr Shorten's integrity.
Mr Turnbull says he is justified in attacking the Labor leader's character because the integrity of leaders is crucial to good government and opposition.
Labor senator Sam Dastyari says the opposition is up for a fight on class warfare.
"I think the gloves have been off for a while," he said.
"What the PM is saying is: 'You are not my class, you are not my station. How dare Bill Shorten talk to wealthy people in Melbourne when he's just this poor boy from the outer suburbs'.
"That's what Lord Turnbull was saying."
Mr Shorten puts the attack down to frustration by the prime minister about a possible leadership challenge.
"The more he yells at me and calls me names, I really think he is looking in the mirror and he is worried about the fact he has sold out on climate change, marriage equality (and) Australia becoming a republic," he said.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has indicated the onslaught will continue.
"Mr Shorten has a dark past and we need to learn more about it," he said.
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