The Prime Minister, who famously grew up in public housing, repeatedly clashed with 2GB host and long-time critic Mark Levy on Monday morning over the cost of living, Medicare and Welcome to Country ceremonies.

The radio host noted the Prime Minister’s calls for “respect” before asking if the “Australian people deserve some respect from you, Mr. Albanese, when it comes to the lies that you’ve been telling through this election campaign?”

Mr Levy said he wanted “to throw things at the TV” during the Channel 7 leaders’ debate regarding cost of living and complained that “everything in my life has gone up.”

“I want to ask you a question about electricity prices. Now, you don’t pay the cost of electricity at the Lodge, but you do have a personal property in Sydney. Has your electricity bill gone up or down?.”

“Oh look, obviously, live a life of privilege serving in the Lodge,’’ Mr Albanese replied.

“Prime Minister, has it gone up or down, your electricity bill?,’ Levy continued.

“I don’t engage in any pretence. I live a life of privilege,’’ Mr Albanese responded.

“I live in the Lodge. That’s where I live.”

The Prime Minister’s salary is now $607,500 a year. His rental income from various properties is around $2350 a week or $9400 a month on top of that.

Because he rents the properties out it’s likely the tenants would be paying the electricity. Mr Albanese does not pay for gas or electricity at the Lodge.

Mr Albanese added that the world had experienced the biggest energy crisis globally since the 1970s that had placed pressure on prices.

Asked about his “lies” Mr Albanese said he was putting forward a “positive program.”

“I’ve been putting forward a positive program, tax cuts for every taxpayer,’’ Mr Albanese replied.

“Our opponents are saying they’ll have higher income taxes for every single taxpayer.”

Mr Albanese at one point acidly observed that the 2GB announcer was no doubt “on the top tax bracket” before the host slapped back suggesting he was “a battler doing his best.”

Levy then countered that the Labor Party had conducted a scare campaign on Medicare.

“I mean this, this notion that Peter Dutton is going to, you know, make cuts to Medicare. He’s made clear that he’s going to match what you are doing with Medicare. So how can you go to an election on Saturday saying there is going to be cuts to Medicare when clearly there won’t be?,’’ Levy said.

“He’s got form at the last time the coalition came into office,’’ Mr Albanese replied.

The 2GB host said that was all in the past and “we’re talking about this election.”

“He has been on the record for more than a decade, including just last night, in saying primary care isn’t sustainable if trips to the doctor are free. That’s what he said last night,’’ Mr Albanese said.

Asked about the controversy over Welcome to Country ceremonies and Peter Dutton’s claim they are “overdone” the PM said he didn’t go looking for arguments on the issue.

“Look, I think one of the things that I do as prime minister, right, is to not look for culture wars,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“I try to engage. I talk with people. I talk with them respectfully, and that is what we need a little bit more of. You know, kindness and respect doesn’t cost anything, and manners don’t hurt either.”