Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has had a verbal stoush with Channel Nine's Today show host Karl Stefanovic, with the presenter accusing the PM of "waffling" and Mr Turnbull labelling him "patronising".
The fiery exchange this morning was over Parliament's worsening citizenship fiasco, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Stefanovic asked the PM whether he and his government would survive the crisis.
Mr Turnbull dismissed the "frenzy" and talked about the government's work in response to North Korea, terrorism in South-East Asia, meetings with world leaders, company tax cuts and job creation.
"PM, with the greatest respect, you are waffling this morning," Stefanovic said, interrupting Mr Turnbull.
The Prime Minister hit back saying: " If you've been unemployed and you're getting a chance to get ahead, you would say you are being very patronising - saying young people getting jobs is 'waffling'."
Stefanovic responded: "OK, this is what I want, this is the real you, this is the real you, this is what we want."
Mr Turnbull said: "And, Karl, is it the real you to patronise people who are out of work and are getting the chance to get ahead? I don't think it is. I think you're a fair dinkum Aussie. I think you've got compassion and I think you know that my job is to ensure that more Australians have the chance to get ahead and realise their dreams."
In response to the dual citizenship crisis, Mr Turnbull proposes a measure compelling all MPs to disclose relevant documents on their citizenship by the end of the year.
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