PM a 'creep' for wink: HansonYoung

Prime Minister Tony Abbott's wink and nod as he responded to a talkback caller who said she does phone sex work to supplement her income shows he is a "total creep", Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says.

ABC Radio caller Gloria told Mr Abbott she already had trouble maintaining a decent standard of living before his government's tough budget, saying she works as a phone sex worker to supplement her income.

Video footage of the interview showed Mr Abbott winked to a person off-camera and smiled as he listened to Gloria speak.

Senator Hanson-Young said Mr Abbott's reaction was poor.

"Rather than taking seriously her concerns of poverty and illness he gave a wink and a smirk, and all I have to say to the prime minister on this is what a creep. What a total creep," she said.

Senator Hanson-Young was speaking ahead of a protest about budget cuts to education funding outside Melbourne's State Library on Wednesday.

Earlier, a spokesperson for Mr Abbott said he winked to a producer to indicate he was happy to take Gloria's call.