Labor condemns PM over ABC cuts

Labor has failed in an attempt to have parliament censure Tony Abbott over his pre-election pledge not to cut funding to the ABC.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on Wednesday moved to censure Mr Abbott for "deliberately misleading" parliament and the people.

As well, the prime minister's statement that the government was applying an efficiency dividend to the ABC had been contradicted by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Mr Turnbull on Tuesday said the $254 million in savings measures were not efficiency dividends.

"The minister for communications has thrown the prime minister under a bus," Mr Shorten told parliament.

The government used its numbers to quash the motion.