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Scott Morrison slammed over 'Trump-like' press conference tactic: 'Garbage'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has seemingly picked up a thing or two from former US President Donald Trump and given the Shadow Treasurer a new nickname.

A petty back-and-forth between the nation's two major parties has seen Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers copping the nickname 'Sneaky Jim', prompting one expert to call for an end to the Kardashian-style performances.

Out on the campaign trail on Tuesday, Mr Morrison was asked about Mr Chalmer's comments earlier in the day regarding electricity, where he referred to Energy Minister Angus Taylor as "dodgy".

Scott Morrison referred to Labor's Jim Chalmers as 'sneaky Jim
Scott Morrison referred to Labor's Jim Chalmers as 'sneaky Jim" at a press conference on Tuesday. Source: AAP

Mr Chalmers had earlier rejected the coalition's modelling which indicated consumers would be financially worse off under Labor's plan to increase the size of the transmission network.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the independent regulator set prices for poles and wires and claimed increasing the value of the network as Labor planned to do would increase household energy prices.

Yet Labor said the coalition could not provide evidence of increased prices, with mr Chalmers saying such claims only "added fuel to the bin fire of lies that this government tells about renewable energy".

Later questioned whether his government had fabricated the details, Mr Morrison took aim at Mr Chalmers.

Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers hit back at Angus Taylor's claims electricity prices would go up under a Labor government. Source: AAP
Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers hit back at Angus Taylor's claims electricity prices would go up under a Labor government. Source: AAP

"Jim Chalmers, good old Sneaky Jim. He's the one who's been telling the lies," he said.

As the reporter tried to veer the PM back to electricity prices, Mr Morrison appeared fixated on the new name he'd coined.

"I'm happy to come to electricity prices but you raised Jim Chalmers and you raised Jim Chalmers as being some sort of model of virtue," he said.

"That hasn't been my experience of Sneaky Jim."

Aussies slam "Trumpist garbage"

People on social media were quick to pick up on Mr Morrison's nickname for Mr Chalmers, many drawing parallels between the prime minister and Donald Trump.

One user said it was clear Mr Morrison was "clearly rattled", with another adding it was "Trumpist garbage."

One person said the prime minister was "beneath contempt".

Mr Trump was renowned for the nicknames he gave to his opponents — from "crooked Hillary" for Hillary Clinton and "sleepy Joe" for current US President Joe Biden to the nicknames he gave to the Republicans he ran against in the primaries.

Some of those nicknames are still used today.

Expert agrees nickname is Trump-like

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Australian politics expert Dr Andrew Hughes from the Australian National University agreed Mr Morrison's nickname for Mr Chalmers was Trumpian.

He believes the nickname was intentional and a way of "building a narrative" that the opposition cannot be trusted and to take away the credibility and effectiveness of their messaging.

Dr Hughes said resorting to name-calling is childish and it could have a negative impact on Mr Morrison.

The name calling reminded people of Donald Trump's habit of giving opponents nicknames. Source: Sipa USA via AAP
The name calling reminded people of Donald Trump's habit of giving opponents nicknames. Source: Sipa USA via AAP

"It can come across as though 'okay, what are you trying to hide then? Why are you focusing so much on them and not so much on what you're you've got to talk about?'," he said.

"It can backfire. It can also seem as though you're running a very negative campaign. And it feeds into that broader narrative Labor are running, which is that you’re [Mr Morrison] a negative person, you've got nothing to offer."

Simply put, name-calling doesn't bode well amid allegations of toxicity inside Parliament House, Dr Hughes suggested.

Politicians need to prove they're different

However, Dr Hughes admits Mr Chalmers referring to Mr Taylor as "dodgy" could also have the same repercussions.

"If you want to prove you're different to the other side, you have to be different," he said.

The name-calling will probably not do Scott Morrison any favours. Source: AAP
The name-calling will probably not do Scott Morrison any favours. Source: AAP

"If you're saying you're more about integrity and respect and values than perhaps what the government is, then you shouldn't get sucked into that... sort of pettiness as it were, you should focus instead on your own policies.

"And sure, if there's opportunity there to attack the government do it on policies and not personality."

Australia doesn't need politicians behaving like the Kardashians

He said nearly a decade of personality politics, Australia is tired and it's had a negative impact on the country.

"We don't expect our politicians to be comedians or be out there making a Keeping up the Kardashians-style show," Dr Hughes said.

"What we do expect, though, is perhaps a bit more decorum with each other and a little bit less name calling."

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