I was hungover: Abbott explains awkward name slip

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has made a candid admission about why he called TV host David Koch the wrong name twice while live on air – he was hungover.

Mr Abbott made the awkward slip of calling Koch "Chris" twice while being interviewed for Channel 7's Sunrise program on December 8.

"I saw him the other night and he came up and he goes 'G'day Chris', and he apologised," Koch said this morning.

"He said he was a bit hungover because (he'd had his) staff Christmas party the night before."

Treasurer Joe Hockey called Koch "Chris" later after a discussion about the GST.

"Did you have your staff Christmas party last night as well?" Koch replied.