Social media has gone into meltdown after Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten faced off in their first leadership debate of the federal election.
The pair locked horns when they went head to head in a televised a hour Channel Seven debate on Monday night in Western Australia.
But it wasn’t the important political issues of the climate change, immigration, healthcare and tax cuts that has everyone talking on social media.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has copped an online roasting after he was caught sneaking a ‘çreepy’ glance at Mr Shorten’s wife Chloe during the debate.
Many viewers noticed Finance Minister Mathias Cormann sneaking Chloe Shorten a ‘çreepy’ glance during the leadership debate
Footage has since gone viral of the awkward moment as the minister, seated in the front row caught leering at Mrs Shorten seated across the aisle from him.
She appears to look uncomfortable as she notices the minister staring at her and looks away.
The eight second exchange didn’t go unnoticed by viewers.
‘As a woman we have all had that feeling creepy feeling someone is staring at us it’s a sixth sense well, Cormann is that creepy guy caught live on national TV. Gross,’ one voter tweeted.
Another added: ‘Doesn’t anyone else see this as strategic?. Leer at Chloe, make her feel very uncomfortable, which will unsettle Shorten during the debate.’
Despite the awkward exchange with the finance minister, Chloe Shorten was all smiles for the cameras while leaving with with her husband after the leadership debate
Even former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s son weighed into the debate.
‘Dude she’s not a plate of mussels and frites,’ Alex Turnbull tweeted.
And it wasn’t the only awkward moment from the debate.
The Channel Seven hosts decided there was time left over for a bizarre question which sparked laughter from the live audience.
The two leaders forced to trade niceties after they were given a minute to say what they admired most about one another.
There was an awkward moment when Prime Minister Scott Morrison(left) and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (right) were asked what they admired about each other
Mr Morrison needed less than half of the allocated time to give his general response.
‘I respect anyone who seeks to serve in the Australian parliament,’ he said.
A genuine Mr Shorten was more complimentary about his fierce rival, which sparked a round of applause from the live audience.
‘I respect Scott more than just a politician, I think on the topic of mental health, I’ve listened carefully to his words and I think he has a view about that topic, which is a very important topic,’he said.
‘He’s also a man of deep conviction. I don’t agree with every policy position he hold but I think he has a real sincerity and real conviction in what he believe in. On mental health, Scott, I think you’re doing good work and I look forward to us working more closely together.’
Bill Shorten was still all smiles after the debate while leaving with his wife Chloe
The unusual question not only attracted surprising responses from the leaders but also left many voters shaking their heads on social media.
‘Last question from the useless female journo has asked “what does each of them admire about the other”?! Seriously! FFS. Do the voters WANT TO KNOW THIS, one woman tweeted.
Another voter added: ‘What dumb question.’
Others slammed the decision to host the live debate on one of Channel Seven minor channels in most states.
‘Was that all that Seven could muster to run such an important leaders debate? Very amateur and very embarrassing,’one person tweeted.
Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten put political hostilities aside to shake hands before the debate
A Newspoll released on Sunday night in The Australian shows the coalition has narrowed the polling gap with Labor, trailing only 51 per cent to 49 per cent in the two-party preferred vote.
Another debate has been scheduled to be broadcast on Sky News from Brisbane on Friday.
Plans are already underway for a third debate.
Mr Morrison released a letter on Sunday night calling for a third debate to be moderated by ABC journalist Leigh Sales and held in the evening of May 7, 8 or 9.
‘A prime-time debate would provide as many Australians as possible, including those who work during the day, the best opportunity to scrutinise the very clear choice on offer at this election,’ the letter stated.
Mr Shorten wants a third debate to be held at lunchtime at the National Press Club.