But Stefanovic seized on Mr Abbott's argument.
"With respect you were fairly feral in opposition... and isn't he [Labor leader Bill Shorten] just doing what you did and why would he do anything different when it worked for you?" Stefanovic asked.
Mr Abbott shot back: "We tried to stop the Labor Party from putting in a carbon tax because a carbon tax was a very bad policy and that is what Bill Shorten wants to give you the people back if he was to win an election."
The PM was then asked about the state of the budget, which Stefanovic described as "a shambles".
"No one is buying what you are selling, what you are laying down. That is the problem."
