Former prime minister's new book recalls famous 'misogyny' clash with Julia Gillard

A new book by former prime minister Tony Abbott on Australian history includes his famous clash with Julia Gillard 13 years ago when she accused him of "misogyny".

Abbott was speaking with Today this morning as he launched Australia: A history – How an ancient land became a great democracy, and accompanying documentary.

Part of it includes the fiery exchange in federal parliament between the then opposition leader Abbott and prime minister Gillard, the first and only woman to hold the office.

Looking back on the speech that made headlines across the world, Abbott says he regarded Gillard as a "formidable" political foe and a person he holds in high regard.

The pair faced off in parliament on October 9, 2012, with Australia's political temperature at boiling point.

The Labor government was embroiled by scandals, and Gillard was facing increasingly sexist and personal attacks.

Her rivalry with Abbott had been ratcheted up when he was shown at an anti-carbon tax rally in Canberra surrounded by demonstrators brandishing anti-Gillard placards reading "Ditch the witch".

Gillard went straight on the attack against Abbott, delivering the now immortal lines: "I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not. The government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man - not now, not ever".

Recalling its impact, Abbott told Today how he described in his book the impact of Gillard's speech as a "rhetorical triumph".

Within hours of the speech, Gillard's name was trending on Twitter, and she made headlines in the US, Britain, India, South Africa and Canada.

The UK's conservative Spectator magazine said there was "much to admire" in Gillard's address.

The Daily Beast said Gillard's speech would have won the approval of former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher, while US feminist blog Jezebel called the prime minister "badass".

Abbott said he, like many other MPs and political commentators in Australia, were taken by surprise by its impact.

"It went viral ... I suppose that's the ultimate success story these days."

But he insists the famous words also acted as a "smokescreen" for the failings of the Gillard government.

"For a couple of days, everyone was talking about Julia Gillard's speech, they weren't talking about the errors of her government."

Abbott also had some advice for embattled Liberal leader Sussan Ley - the first woman to hold the job - whose approval ratings have crashed amid resignations and infighting.

According to the latest Resolve Political Monitor poll by Nine Newspapers, voters' opinion of her performance fell by 14 percentage points in only one month.

The former prime minister said the key to successful opposition leadership was offering a choice to voters.

"A good opposition is a strong and clear contrast to the government of the day," Abbott said.

Abbott also backed fellow right-wing Liberal Andrew Hastie, who quit Ley's frontbench over disagreements about the party's immigration policy.

"Andrew's a friend of mine. I think he's got vast potential and promise. I'm disappointed that he had to leave the frontbench. I still think he will contribute."

Hear the full chat with Tony Abbott in the video above