The Chaser’s Julian Morrow despairs of politicians these days.

In an interview with TV Tonight’s David Knox, he says it’s harder than ever to get interesting reactions when pranking politicians these days.

“There aren’t as many difficult customers as there were in the old Bill Heffernan, Mark Latham days. Everyone is pretty savvy to the idea that you grin and walk on. Rarely will they say much.

“It’s more like an intentional smile, keep walking, make a couple of offhand comments and don’t engage. That is the standard M.O.

“You have to work pretty hard to get more than that.”

The Chaser’s Election Desk premiered on the ABC Wednesday night, and apart from Tanya Plibersek, who was happy to cuddle a rat the team shoved at Bill Shorten, most politicians studiously ignored the comedians when approached on the campaign trial.