Tony Abbott gets mention at the Emmys, and not in a good way

UK comedian John Oliver made some cutting remarks about former prime minister Tony Abbott on the red carpet at the Emmys in Los Angeles.

John Oliver presents the award for outstanding directing for a limited series, movie or dramatic special at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (AP) Source: Invision

Tony Abbott has got a mention at the Emmys - but not in a good way.

British comedian John Oliver remarked on the former prime minister's ousting while on his way into the star-studded American television awards show in Los Angeles, as the new Turnbull ministry was being sworn in in Canberra.

"Ding dong, Tony is dead," Oliver told reporters on the red carpet on Monday.

"I don't know what the point of Tony Abbott was but it was fun while it lasted.

"It was like taking heroin: it was incredibly exhilarating and it was right that you stopped."

Oliver brought Mr Abbott to the attention of US audiences in June 2014, highlighting his gaffes in a segment on the American satire show Last Week Tonight.

The segment aired as Mr Abbott started a tour of Europe, Canada and the US, which included a stop at the White House to meet US President Barack Obama.