Malcolm Turnbull has launched an extraordinary personal attack on Bill Shorten, describing the Labor leader as a social-climbing sycophant and parasite.
As the two leaders exchanged barbs in parliament, the prime minister went for his opponent's throat.
"There was never a union leader in Melbourne that tucked his knees under more billionaire's tables," Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Turnbull hit back at the opposition leader's earlier "Mr Harbourside Mansion" reference to the prime minister.
"He likes harbourside mansions, he is yearning for one, he is yearning to get into Kirribilli House - because somebody else pays for it.
"Just like he loved knocking back Dick Pratt's Cristal and looked forward to living at the expense of the taxpayer, this man is a parasite and has no respect for the taxpayer."
The heated exchange was prompted by a Labor motion condemning Mr Turnbull for "being so out of touch that his hopelessly divided government punishes family, pensioners, carers and new mums while giving $50 billion handout to business and big banks".
The prime minister labelled Mr Shorten a "social-climbing sycophant if ever there was one".
"There has never been a more sycophantic leader of the Labor party than this one, and he comes here and poses as a tribune of the people."
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