Abbott says Gillard's 2012 misogyny speech was unjustified

Tony Abbott has said Julia Gillard's 2012 misogyny speech was "a pretty over the top and unjustified attack". He made the remark for an episode of ABC's I Was Actually There, in which Gillard, Abbott and others relived the speech. The episode is due to air on Monday night.

Gillard delivered the speech on 9 October 2012, responding to a motion from Abbott that accused the government of sexism and misogyny. Earlier, Abbott had told parliament: "This is a government which is only too ready to detect sexism - to detect misogyny". In her reply, Gillard said she would not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by the man, and used the phrase "Not now, not ever".

Abbott said most of the accusations in the speech were either over the top or slightly unfair. He also said his relationship with Gillard, which he described as one of mutual respect, had already deteriorated before the speech. ABC News reported that the two recalled brewing tension ahead of it.

Gillard's government was a minority government, meaning it did not hold a majority in the House of Representatives, and relied on independents to pass new laws. Abbott described Peter Slipper, who had quit the Liberal Party to take up the speakership, as essentially a Liberal Party turncoat. He said Gillard had put Slipper into the role because she was desperate to prop up her numbers.

Slipper was later accused of sexually harassing a staffer, James Ashby. Court proceedings revealed texts from Slipper in which he likened female genitalia to molluscs. Ashby has since become Pauline Hanson's right-hand man and is now party director of One Nation.