In his former life as an ABC journalist, Tony Abbott's new chief spin doctor Mark Simkin was great at putting politicians on the spot.

In this case, it's unfortunate that one of those pollies was Mr Abbott, and that the spot relates to one of the Prime Minister's most spectacular backdowns.

A 2013 interview between the pair, posted to social media by Labor MP Jenny Macklin, features the then Opposition Leader spruiking the importance of a "fair dinkum paid parental leave scheme".

Mr Simkin, now the Prime Minister's communications chief, presses Mr Abbott on the timing of the scheme: "But when is it very important - immediately, or is it something that could be deferred?"