Abbott labels Shorten "phoney and assassin"

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has stepped up his parliamentary attacks on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten during question time.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks during House of Representatives Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) Source: AAP

Tony Abbott has accused Bill Shorten of being a "smirking phoney" and "two-time assassin" as the prime minister stepped up attacks on Labor in parliament.

Mr Abbott dismissed a question from the opposition leader by saying he wouldn't accept lectures on ministerial solidarity from Mr Shorten.

"That smirking phoney over there, that assassin, the two-time Sussex Street assassin ... that is this person who now seeks the trust of the Australian people at the next election," he said of the Labor leader.