Outrage after Abbott says women are focused on the household budget

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says "Let boys be boys, let girls be girls" - and let toys reflect that. Photo / AP

A day after doubling the number of women in cabinet - to two - Tony Abbott is back in the gender dog house.

Discussing the merits of his revamped ministry, which includes a female health minister, the prime minister ran foul of social media, Labor and the Greens when asked about his greatest achievement for Australian women in the past year.

Mr Abbott, who is also minister for women, nominated his government's axing of Labor's carbon tax.

"As many of us know, women are particularly focused on the household budget and the repeal of the carbon tax means a $550 a year benefit for the average family," he told Nine Network on Monday.

This caused a flurry of criticism on Twitter linked to the trending hashtags #thankstony and #PutYourIronOut.

For some, Mr Abbott's remark revived memories of another carbon tax comment in 2010 when, as opposition leader, he claimed its impact on electricity prices would impact greatly on women as they did the ironing.

Acting opposition leader Penny Wong said Mr Abbott was out of touch.

Greens leader Christine Milne said "he might as well have said his greatest achievement was to help women buy a better iron so they can stay home and iron more often".

With the carbon tax repealed, I can afford to use the iron and listen to a wholesome conservative radio station at the same time #ThanksTony

— Kimotional Dysregulation | BLM | (@the_ether) December 22, 2014

Mr Abbott also nominated his government's planned improvements to childcare arrangements and his upscaled paid parental leave scheme.

"And obviously I'm very pleased that I was able to promote three women in my own ministry," he added.

The most powerful female MP in government, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, backed Mr Abbott, saying he was focused on policy changes that supported families and households.

Waking up to fulfil my purpose of household management, so grateful my toaster is cheaper to run. I live for such significance #thankstony

— Harriet Wakelam (@hwakelam) December 22, 2014

"Women's policy is everyone's policy. What's good for women is good for the community generally," she said.

Ms Bishop will be joined in cabinet by Sussan Ley, who was elevated to health minister in Mr Abbott's reshuffle of frontbench positions.

"I believe I've proved my worth," Ms Ley said.

My period pain has stopped since the repeal of the carbon tax! #ThanksTony

— Celia Finter (@celiafinter) December 22, 2014

Mr Abbott also promoted backbenchers Kelly O'Dwyer and Karen Andrews to parliamentary secretary positions.

He denied the government was in damage control in making the reshuffle, after admitting it had experienced a "ragged" end to 2014.

"Every so often you do need to refresh the government," he said.

Now the carbon tax is out of the way, I can get back to what matters like darning my husbands socks and fetching his slippers. #thankstony

— Ree Jones (@totinogirl) December 22, 2014

The new ministry will be sworn in on Tuesday.

- AAP