PM Abbott gives ABC 'pat on the back'

Tony Abbott looks forward to lifting his ministerial ban on the ABC's Q&A program after the show was shifted to the broadcaster's news division.

The ABC board has agreed to move its controversial show Q&A into the broadcaster's news division. (AAP)

Tony Abbott has given the ABC a rare "pat on the back" for agreeing to move its Q&A program to the public broadcaster's news division.

The prime minister had written to ABC chairman James Spigelman saying he would lift a ministerial ban on the program only after the shift was made.

Mr Abbott told reporters in Tasmania on Friday he wanted to give the ABC a "pat on the back for doing the right thing" and looked forward to coalition frontbenchers reappearing on the program.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says the prime minister should be more concerned about Australia's rising unemployment than micro-managing programming decisions at the ABC.

"The job of the leadership of the nation is not to be deep diving into which department within the ABC runs a television show," he told reporters in Sydney.