Labor hypocrites on Nazi slur: Frydenberg

Josh Frydenberg doesn't think it is appropriate to use holocaust and Goebbels analogies in modern politics.

But the Jewish assistant treasurer says Federal Labor are hypocrites when condemning such terms.

In the heat of parliamentary debate, Prime Minister Tony Abbott last week labelled Opposition Leader Bill Shorten the "Dr Goebbels of economic policy", likening him to the Nazi minister for propaganda.

It drew a scathing response from Labor.

Mr Abbott had also used the term "holocaust" a few weeks earlier.

"I don't like the use of `Goebbels' in terms of political discourse," Mr Frydenberg told Network Ten.

"That being said, Labor has engaged in mass hypocrisy here."

He said the likes of former Labor treasurer Wayne Swan and shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus have made similar comments.

"Even Bill Shorten last year talked about the "book burning instincts" of the coalition. We all know that has a reference back to 1933 Germany," he said.