Hockey should apologise to AMA: Labor

Labor has demanded Joe Hockey apologise to Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler over a "personal attack" that showed the treasurer's glass jaw.

Dr Owler disagrees with the government's plan to launch a third medical school in Western Australia, saying that traineeships, not schools, are needed.

The AMA has for years lobbied against the medical school at Curtin University, announced by Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Sunday.

"In fact, there is no evidence for the need of a new medical school anywhere in Australia right now."

"It's a calamitous captain's call by Captain Chaos. That's the only way to describe it because it's going to cause chaos with the medical training of students," Dr Owler said.

Mr Hockey took offence to the AMA's position, labelling Dr Owler's comments extreme and "certainly not fitting for someone representing a great profession".

"Quite frankly, I think his comments were out of order," he said.

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen accused Mr Hockey of launching an "extraordinary" personal attack on one of Australia's most respected neurosurgeons.

"You don't have to agree with everything Dr Owler says ... to respect him as a person, to respect the office he holds and to respect the work that he does," Mr Bowen told reporters.

The remarks proved Mr Hockey had a glass jaw and was incapable of taking criticism, Mr Bowen said.

He demanded the treasurer apologise to Dr Owler and Australia's doctors.