Tony Abbott's "sex appeal" gaffe gives a glimpse into the opposition leader's views on women, Labor frontbencher Penny Wong says.
On his first trip to the key marginal seat of Lindsay in western Sydney on Tuesday, Mr Abbott was asked how Liberal candidate Fiona Scott compared with her coalition predecessor Jackie Kelly.
"They're young, they're feisty and, I think I can probably say, have a bit of sex appeal," Mr Abbott told reporters.
Senator Wong says that's what happens when the opposition leader goes off script.
"When he goes off script you get a bit a glimpse into what he really thinks," she told ABC radio on Wednesday.
"I wasn't altogether surprised and nor were many Australian women, I suspect. This is consistent with some of the views Mr Abbott has expressed over many, many years."
But shadow treasurer Joe Hockey said it was time to move on from the gaffe.
"I think spending so much time talking about it is entirely trivial," he told ABC radio.
"I think there are things that matter much more to the Australian people that we should be dealing with."
Mr Hockey said Mr Abbott had no "ill intentions" with his comments.
Former Queensland premier and Labor's candidate for Forde, Peter Beattie says he's made similar gaffes in the past.
"As someone who has no sex appeal I find that disappointing," he joked.
"No, seriously, I did that too so I'm the last one to throw stones.
"I won't be criticising Tony Abbott for that."
