Prime Minister Scott Morrison has received a bollocking about cost-of-living pressures from a pub patron in regional New South Wales, as he campaigned ahead of the federal election.
Mr Morrison made an unannounced visit to the Edgeworth Tavern on the outskirts of Newcastle, where he was accosted by a local disability support pensioner.
The pensioner berated the Prime Minister about the level of financial support for older Australians.
"This is what you said when you got elected last time: 'We're going help all those people that worked all their lives, paid their taxes and those that have a go, get a go'," the man said,
The man told the Prime Minister he had worked in the mines for 30 years, but his retirement was being affected by tight restrictions on pension payments.
"You can have a million dollar house you can have $250,000 ... listen to me for a change, right $250,000 in the bank, you can have negative gearing and franking credits, but a disability pensioner can't have any income," he said.
He refused to be drawn away from Mr Morrison, pointing his finger at the PM as he outlined his frustrations.
"You know another promise you made, you were going to have an integrity commission … it's the foxes in charge of the henhouse," he said.
Mr Morrison offered several times for the man to speak to one of his staff members about the details of his concerns.
"You better f***ing do something … I'm sick of your bullshit," the man shouted, at which point Mr Morrison walked away.
On Wednesday, Mr Morrison said his visit was broadly welcomed, except for the "one gentleman" who was able to later explain his complicated case to his staff.
"He wasn't asked to leave or anything like that," Mr Morrison said.
"I can understand that he was very upset about some very significant issues that had happened in his life and so I was keen to understand what he was saying to me.
"As you move around, I like hearing from people."
Cost-of-living pressures a key concern
The election campaign has not yet officially started, but both Mr Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese have been travelling around the country for weeks announcing policies and meeting voters.
The Prime Minister is expected to call the election any day now for a poll on either May 14 or May 21.
Cost-of-living pressures have been identified by both the Liberal and Labor parties as a central concern of voters.
The Coalition announced a $250 cash payment for pension recipients in the federal budget handed down last month, a policy criticised by social services organisations as inadequate.
Labor has promised to review welfare payments, with the intention of raising them should the Opposition win the federal election, but has repeatedly declined to say how by much the payments should be increased.
Towke says Morrison lacks credibility
Being on the receiving end of an upbraiding in a pub is far from the only challenge Mr Morrison has faced this week.
His conduct and his character have come under question over both current and historical pre-selection battles in New South Wales.
The federal intervention by the Liberal Party that saw Mr Morrison and two others circumvent local party branches and directly appoint candidates to some seats in New South Wales is facing a High Court challenge.
And Mr Morrison's own pre-selection for the seat of Cook in 2007 is being re-examined, as allegations that he used race to campaign against an opponent have re-surfaced.
Michael Towke, the man Mr Morrison eventually defeated for pre-selection, believes his Lebanese heritage was used against him.
Mr Morrison has repeatedly denied the allegations, describing them as a "malicious slur".
But Mr Towke has told Channel Ten's The Project that said the Prime Minister "does not have much credibility now when it comes to the truth".
"I mean, he has been called out by his own side … [Deputy Prime Minister] Barnaby Joyce called him not only a liar, but a compulsive liar," Mr Towke said.
