Government MPs walk out on Shorten

A group of coalition MPs has defended walking out on Bill Shorten while the opposition leader was addressing parliament about indigenous disadvantage.

Liberal MP Andrew Nikolic and 10 of his colleagues took umbrage when Mr Shorten criticised the government for making funding cuts to the indigenous affairs budget during his comments on the Closing the Gap report.

The report assessed progress in health, education and employment for indigenous people.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott had earlier reminded the parliament the challenge of "closing the gap" was beyond partisan politics.

"So none of us should seek to score a point or defend a legacy here," he warned at the start of his address.

He later tweeted a similar message.

But Mr Shorten used his address to warn about closures of shelters and family centres, poorer heath and lack of access to legal aid.

"We are compelled to point out what these cuts mean," he told parliament.

"It's not too late to seek to repair that harm."

Mr Nikolic said that was "entirely inappropriate" and refused to remain in the chamber.

"I went 'you're joking', and I stood up and walked out," he told AAP.

"It demonstrates an appalling lack of judgment and leadership," he said.

The government will scrap indigenous programs deemed not effective but has promised that won't include frontline services.