Scott Morrison has fiery debate with Anthony Albanese ahead of Australian election

There's been a fiery leader's debate across the Tasman as Australia prepares to head to the polls. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is fighting to stay in power, while Labor's Anthony Albanese is campaigning to take over.

It was hostile and at times ugly.

For more than an hour, the two men vying for Australia's top job clashed in a fiery exchange over almost everything. 

"We have got a plan and it's a plan you don't like," Albanese said.

"It's only two pages it looks like that - there's nothing on it," Morrison said. 

It ranged from the rise of China to the cost of living. 

"The problem with what Scott just said is the cost of living measures that he spoke about are temporary. All the sincerity of a fake tan," Albanese said.

There was an admission from Morrison over the country's failed vaccine rollout. 

"It was a race Anthony and we shouldn't have described it in those terms," Morrison said.

And on Mother's Day a question about 50 percent of voters and a topic that's haunted Morrison's time as leader.

"How do you define a woman?" the moderator asked.

Their answers - less than inspiring. 

"An adult female," Albanese said.

"A member of the female sex," Morrison said.

"I don't think it's confusing," Albanese said.

What is clear is 12 days out from Australia voting, both sides see a clear path to victory. 

But the polls are showing that Morrison wouldn't win. Albanese's Labor party is not only ahead in the polls, but widening the gap as the election draws closer. 

But everyone here remembers that in the last election, the polls got it wrong. 

Who won, lost or drew the debate last night will be decided on election night next Saturday.