Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is criticising the Labor promise of $500 million to kickstart high-speed rail.

Fast rail linking Sydney and the Hunter will be prioritised under a Labor government, according to Anthony Albanese.

Mr Frydenberg told Chris Smith “it’s simply a plan to have a plan about a plan”.

“We’re not going to allow Anthony Albanese to sneak into government and to not reveal his true economic instincts.”

Press PLAY below to hear the full interview

Anthony Albanese shot back at Mr Frydenberg’s comments, pointing to his work on the “serious economic portfolios” of infrastructure, transport, regional development and communications.

“They haven’t raised any criticism of my record as a senior minister because it’s a good one,”  he told Joe Hildebrand.

He didn’t miss the opportunity to return fire on the Treasurer.

“Doesn’t it say it all that the Treasurer of Australia spends his time pedalling stuff dug up by the dirt unit?

“The bloke who’s presided over a trillion dollars of debt, real wages going backward, not keeping up with the cost of living, the bloke who’s undertaken no economic reform, who’s presided over the first recession in three decades…”

Press PLAY below to hear Anthony Albanese’s response in full