Christensen to abstain on parental leave

Internal opposition to Prime Minister Tony Abbott's signature paid parental leave scheme continues to grow, with a coalition MP calling it discriminatory.

Nationals MP George Christensen says he's likely to abstain from voting on the scheme he's opposed "from day dot".

But he doesn't want to cross the floor and vote with "those hypocrites" in Labor, who introduced the existing scheme.

"Labor started the rot with paid parental leave," he told reporters in Canberra.

Mr Christensen is the latest in a string of coalition politicians to indicate they'll oppose or abstain from voting when the legislation is eventually brought to parliament.

Mr Abbott insists the coalition can cope with internal critics, telling MPs they're "not a Stalinist party".