OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has described posters that depict him as racist, homophobic and sexist as tacky and not funny.

The posters, snapped inside the Sydney electorate office of Health Minister Tanya Plibersek, carry the slogans: "I'm threatened by boats and gays. Gays on boats are my worst nightmare" and also "Note to Ladies: Make me a sandwich".

Mr Abbott told the Nine Network today: "It's tacky, it's not funny and Tanya Plibersek should be better than that and the Labor Party should lift its game."

Ms Plibersek's office yesterday refused to be drawn on the question of an apology, but later tweeted: "Have instituted formal satire ban in the office".



In a prepared statement she said: "It is satire, I have asked the staff member to take it down."



However, Liberal party deputy leader Julie Bishop said she was so outraged by the posters she raised the issue during Question Time yesterday after noticing the pictures on her iPad.



Ms Bishop said she found the posters highly offensive, as did the Opposition Leader, who's own sister is in a same-sex relationship.

"It is offensive and she (Ms Plibersek) should apologise," Ms Bishop said.



She added she questioned deputy speaker Anna Burke on whether it was appropriate for an MP and a cabinet minister to display such an offensive poster of the leader of opposition in an electorate office.



The Speaker responded she had no jurisdiction over electoral offices and suggested Ms Bishop raise the issue with the Department of Finance.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey also weighed into the furore, adding the news of the posters capped an awful week for politicians and that all MPs have to do better.

"It's been an awful week for the profession of politics and we just have to get on with the job," he told the Seven Network.

Mr Hockey said Mr Abbott was being pragmatic about the posters.

"He's offended but he just gets on with it," Mr Hockey said. "We've just got to get on with the job."

Environment minister Tony Burke agreed that Parliament needed to lift its game and focus on robust debate.

"If the aggression is aggression and, sort of, a lot of passion in a policy debate, that part of it, I think's good," he said. "When it gets personal I don't think we need it."

The posters, which were photographed inside the Sydney electorate office of Labor MP Tanya Plibersek, caught the attention of a 2GB listener who forwarded the photos onto talkback radio host Ben Fordham and immediately sparked outrage.



On his Sydney Live show yesterday, Fordham asked how Ms Plibersek would feel if the shoe was on the other foot and "nasty posters" of Julia Gillard were on display in a Liberal MP's office.



Referring to the sandwich poster, Fordham said: "This is a clear insinuation that Tony Abbott is sexist.



"This is a bloke who has a wife and daughters and I think he has a lot of respect for women."



Fordham said he'd expect to see a poster of Julia Gillard in Ms Pilbersek's office, but not a mock up campaign-style one featuring Mr Abbott.

- With AAP

