Leigh Sales shuts down PM's attempt at role reversal

ABC host Leigh Sales has told Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull she "asks the questions" during a fierce interview on the 7.307.30last night.

The PM was annoyed that after fielding a number of questions on education and innovation Sales shifted the discussion to the ongoing Mal Brough saga instead of the PM's new funding announcement.

"You've lost interest in innovation have you?" Mr Turnbull asked.

"Aunty ABC loses interest in innovation."

"I wish we had unlimited time," Sales replied.

The PM then relented and took some uncomfortable questions on Mr Brough but he soon tried of it and repeated that Sales had lost interest in innovation.

"If every guest on the program came on and they only got to talk about what they wanted to talk about it would be a very different program. Now listen..." Sales said.

In an attempt to turn the tables Mr Turnbull then began to pose a question about what viewers whether viewers were more interested in innovation or the travails of Mal Brough.

"I ask the questions on this program," Sales snapped back.

"Do you think they're more interested in innovation and jobs?" Mr Turnbull asked.

"I'll tell you what I think they're interested in. One of your colleagues resigning from the Liberal Party to join the National Party," Sales said as she got the interview back on track.

As the interview drew to a close Sales offered Mr Turnbull a "little gift" in the form of a final question on the PM's $1.1 billion innovation package.

"How very kind of you," Mr Turnbull said.

However, it wasn't the gift that Mr Turnbull would have wanted, with Sales asking if funding the package would lead to cuts in other parts of the budget and "tough spending measures" that would end his political honeymoon.