Scott Morrison has dusted off the use of the passive aggressive "mate" in a tense on-air exchange with Karl Stefanovic about the man he replaced as Treasurer.

Mr Morrison accused the Today show host of playing "pathetic politics" during a series of questions about former treasurer Joe Hockey, who will leave Parliament on Wednesday.

Stefanovic quizzed Mr Morrison about whether he felt responsible for ending the North Sydney MP's 19-year career.

"Did it feel bad to shaft him?" Stefanovic asked.