Finance Minister Penny Wong says Tony Abbott's description of Labor's support for the automotive industry as "undignified" says a lot about his values.
The opposition leader on Saturday responded to Labor's plan to pump an extra $500 million into the auto industry to 2020 as a policy-on-the-run cash splash.
"What a humiliating, what an undignified position for the prime minister of Australia to be in ... he's charging down the street, waving a blank cheque at the auto industry," he said.
Senator Wong seized on the remark.
"So Tony Abbott is saying to Australians, support for Australian jobs in the auto industry is undignified," she told Nine Network on Sunday.
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"That says something very important of the man's values."
Labor was trying to provide long term certainty for car makers and workers and the coalition's plans would mean job losses in the sector, Senator Wong added.
Opposition industry spokeswoman Sophie Mirabella says the coalition wants to make it cheaper the build cars in Australia by cutting the carbon tax, reducing company tax and slashing business red tape.
