Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has defended himself for calling Opposition Leader Bill Shorten an "economic girlie-man", after receiving widespread criticism for the sexist nature of the comment.

Senator Cormann used the term, first used by former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, when rejecting Mr Shorten's claim that Labor was more likely to deliver a budget surplus than the Coalition.

"The problem that the Labor Party has today is that Bill Shorten is an economic girlie man," he said in an interview with Sky News on Saturday.



"He doesn't have what it takes to repair the budget mess that they have left behind."

On Sunday the Finance Minister defended himself, saying that "'economic girlie-men' has come to adopt its own meaning".

"It is not in any way intended as a reflection on girls, it is entirely intended as a reflection on Bill Shorten," Senator Cormann said in a statement.

"No amount of confected outrage from Bill Shorten, Labor and the Greens can detract from the fact that he is too weak to repair the budget mess Labor left behind."

Comment sends worrying message: Penny Wong

Labor's trade spokeswoman Penny Wong told Sky News the phrase sends a worrying message to younger Australians.

"If we use girl as an insult what are we telling our sons and our daughters about being a girl? You're saying it's somehow less confident, weak, whatever the imputation," Senator Wong said.

"I just don't think that's sensible. Imagine if we used any racial term in the way it was used. I think we would all be outraged for the same reasons."

Senator Wong said she noted Education Minister Christopher Pyne failed to support Senator Cormann when asked about the issue on national television.

"Christopher didn't defend Mathias which was telling of itself," she said.

"I don't think using 'girlie' as an insult is the sort of thing a cabinet minister or serious political leader should be saying."

Mr Pyne told Sky News Senator Cormann was simply making a point about Labor's spending record.

"I think Mathias Cormann used a colourful phrase," he said.

"I have to say it's unusual for Mathias to use a colourful phrase but it's obviously captured the attention of some people."

Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said Senator Cormann's comments detracted from issues surrounding the budget.

"I think it is extraordinary that we have a PM who talks about shirtfronting the leader of [another] nation and we now have a Finance Minister who thinks he is Arnold Schwarzenegger," Ms Plibersek said.

"What Mathias Cormann is missing is that this budget hurts vulnerable Australians."