Anthony Albanese has clashed with ABC host Sarah Ferguson after previous comments made by Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers raised questions about Labor’s housing policy.

The Prime Minister dodged a number of Ferguson’s questions and squirmed under the pressure during an often fiery pre-election interview on 7.30 on Monday night.

In one awkward exchange, Mr Albanese was grilled over comments made in 2017 by the treasurer which appeared to contradict Labor’s current housing policy.

The Prime Minister said his government’s answer to the national housing shortage crisis was to focus on increasing supply.

Ms Ferguson questioned whether this would lead to drop in house prices, which Mr Albanese refuted.

‘I’m looking for people to have access to good quality housing, to have the security in life that comes from having a secure roof over your head,’ he said.

The ABC host then read out a quote from Mr Chalmers attacking Malcolm Turnbull’s Coalition government in parliament eight years ago.

‘They are not prepared to pull the meaningful lever when it comes to housing affordability and that is dealing with negative gearing and capital gains tax,’ he said at the time.

7.30 host Sarah Ferguson (pictured) gave Anthony Albanese a brutal grilling during a fiery pre-election interview on 7.30

7.30 host Sarah Ferguson (pictured) gave Anthony Albanese a brutal grilling during a fiery pre-election interview on 7.30

The Prime Minister (pictured) was accused of dodging questions during the interview

The Prime Minister (pictured) was accused of dodging questions during the interview

‘As a consequence they will not do anything meaningful about housing affordability in this country particularly for young people.’

The presenter repeatedly asked Mr Albanese whether Mr Chalmers was wrong in his previous assertions, which the Prime Minister struggled to answer directly.

‘That’s a quote that you’ve used from a decade ago,’ Mr Albanese hit back.

Ferguson interrupted, prompting the Prime Minister to swiftly jump to Mr Chalmers’ defence and hail him as a terrific treasurer.

‘Was he wrong back then?’ Ferguson asked again.

Mr Albanese replied: ‘He wasn’t the treasurer back then. He’s a terrific treasurer.’ 

He reasserted his government’s main focus on the supply of housing.

‘Are you saying changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax will never happen as long as you’re Prime Minister or are these measures that you would seek a mandate for?’ the ABC host asked.

Federal treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured) attacked Malcolm Turnball's government in 2017 over housing affordability policy

Federal treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured) attacked Malcolm Turnball’s government in 2017 over housing affordability policy

The Prime Minister told her to look at his term in office as evidence that his government will not change its mind on this matter. 

It was one of several hard hitting questions Mr Albanese tried to evade.

Ferguson asked whether electricity prices will come down this year, referring to his promise at the last election to lower electricity bills by $275

‘What we’re doing is working through the mess we inherited,’Mr Albanese said.

Ferguson interrupted: ‘That’s a question about the end of this year.’

The Prime Minister shot back: ‘No. There’s a context here, Sarah.

‘And the context is that 24 out of 28 coal-fired power stations announced their closure under the former government.’

The fiery back and forth continued for several minutes before Ferguson gave up. 

‘I will stop you there because we will run out of time. It is a complex question. What the listeners heard is that you’re not quite answering that. But you’re entitled to do that,’ she told the Prime Minister.

Ferguson also repeatedly asked the Prime Minister to state the timeframe of his pledge to build 100,000 homes for first homebuyers.

‘Well, we want to get it going. We want to get the legislation,’ Mr Albanese began.

Ferguson interrupted ‘But what’s the number? How many homes will be built by the end of the decade?’

‘We want to get the legislation passed,’ Mr Albanese repeated.

Anthony Albanese spent the day campaigning across Sydney before sitting down with ABC host Sarah Ferguson for a fiery interview

Anthony Albanese spent the day campaigning across Sydney before sitting down with ABC host Sarah Ferguson for a fiery interview

Elsewhere in the interview, Mr Albanese took a brutal swipe at his rival, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton over his conduct in recent leaders debates.

‘Peter Dutton seems to think that bluster and yelling and interrupting and being rude is strength, it’s not,’ he said.

‘One of the things that you have to do as a leader is show kindness and compassion to the vulnerable.

‘That’s part of who I am, it’s part of my character. That’s not a weakness.’

‘I think Peter Dutton has darkened his own brand. He has made a career out of promoting division, about punching down on vulnerable people, about seeking to divide the community and engaging in culture wars.’

The fiery interview divided viewers five days out from the May 3 election. 

‘My god this guy Anthony Albanese trying to dodge every single question Sarah Ferguson asked,’ one tweeted.

Another added: ‘Sarah Ferguson just ended Albanese election win on ABC. She totally wrecked him, he was like a rabbit in headlights, who didn’t know where to turn.’

However, others disagreed Ferguson’s hard hitting approach.

‘When will Sarah Ferguson learn that it is important to let her interviewees actually answer her questions? Listening to ABC 7.30 tonight and this combative interview with Albanese is quite pathetic. FFS let him answer!’ one wrote.

Another added: ‘Sarah Ferguson is an extremely rude interviewer. Hard to watch tonight’s interview with the Prime Minister. 

‘She constantly interrupted him and would not let him finish his answers. She cuts in constantly. Not once did she address him. Is she really the best the ABC have? Disgraceful!’

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk