Delight among Coalition MPs over Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's question time attack on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has led to a second day of insults, with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce accusing Mr Shorten of confected outrage and creating class warfare.
Mr Joyce said he had the best seat in the house for the spirited speech in Parliament on Wednesday, which has buoyed the spirits of the government's backbench and left Labor on the backfoot on Thursday.
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The attacks keep coming
PM Malcolm Turnbull is being hailed by some and attacked by others over his scathing criticism of Bill Shorten during question time.
The Nationals leader said Mr Shorten knew what he was doing in attacking Mr Turnbull's wealth, "creating this class warfare, calling Mr Turnbull 'Mr Harbourside Mansion' ", an insult coined by Tony Abbott confidant Peta Credlin.
He said he'd rather have leaders with money and success running the country than someone "with the arse out of their pants who has never made a buck".
"Remember Mr Turnbull owns a nice stack on the harbour because he's worked very hard and been successful," Mr Joyce said.
"That's what we want in this nation. We should celebrate success.
"The thing about Mr Shorten is he's such a hypocrite, because we all know he spends his whole life swanning it with Solly Lew and Richard Pratt and flying round in their jets and good luck and God bless him but don't go to the despatch box, Mr Shorten, and start this confected outrage of you and the working man as if you're Clark from the coalmine in Wales. You're not."
Mr Shorten has spoken openly about his friendship with paper magnate Richard Pratt, who died in 2009.
![Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Josh Frydenberg listen to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's attacks on Bill ...](/web/20170209011822im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/8/c/b/f/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu8qae.png/1486599808697.jpg)
Mr Turnbull highlighted their relationship during his attacks, saying Mr Shorten was trying to run the politics of envy, despite being a regular guest at Mr Pratt's Melbourne mansion Raheen.
Pratt Holdings was one of the largest donors to the Liberal Party last financial year, giving it $830,000 and Labor just $20,000.
![Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.](/web/20170209011822im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/g/f/x/s/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu8qae.png/1486595615290.jpg)
Mr Joyce said the Coalition would stand up to Labor's attacks because Mr Shorten was incompetent.
"You might be leader of the Labor Party, but it looks like you've never done a day's labour in your life.
"He couldn't run a pie shop and the thought of him running the country fills me with dread."
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen hit back, saying Labor wanted to focus on the government's planned cuts to family tax concessions and accusing the Prime Minister of a "shrill rant".
"The guy is obsessed with Bill Shorten. If he worried as much about the millions of people whose family tax benefits he was cutting as he was about the politics of him versus Bill Shorten, then the nation might be better off," Mr Bowen said.
"The take-out apparently is the backbench liked it, so he's safe for a few days. Well, if that's what the Prime Minister needs, good luck to him but we'll remain focused on the policy."
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