PETER Slipper went back to the House of Representatives for the first time in six months to end his prosecution by the Opposition with a dramatic resignation.

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard's parliamentary broadside against Tony Abbott has made international headlines, with one news blog praising it as an 'epic speech' by a 'badass motherf***er'.

The 15 minute impassioned speech, in which Ms Gillard accused Mr Abbott of "peddling a double standard" and having a long history of sexism and misogyny, was uploaded to YouTube and viewed around the world.

The US-based, women-focused Jezebel.com blog, owned by Gawker media and boasting millions of readers, said the video was the "best thing you'll see all day: Australia's female prime minister rips misogynist a new one in epic speech on sexism".

"She basically ripped him a new [expletive]," the site said, excerpting several "choice quotes" from the "smackdown" and describing Ms Gillard as "one badass motherf***er".

In the UK, the conservative Telegraph described the speech as a "brilliant political pivot", saying she had turned "defending the indefensible" (the Peter Slipper scandal) into a speech that cleverly shifted the focus of the entire news story.

"Watching a female Prime Minister tear apart the male leader of the Opposition with such aplomb, composure - but most importantly armed with a brilliantly impressive set of insults - backed up with dates and times of when each shocking comment was said - was the best card Gillard, ever the political animal, could have played in such a situation," the reporter said.

But while the PM was being lauded abroad closer to home her refusal to sack Peter Slipper drew criticism and comments that she "had let down the women of Australia".

The Federal Opposition today attacked Prime Minister Julia Gillard's refusal to sack Speaker Peter Slipper - saying the former Speaker showed better judgement.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott used morning radio to attack Ms Gillard's handling of the Slipper affair, claiming she was more concerned about her parliamentary numbers than principles.

Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop said Mr Slipper's resignation was “yet another grubby political deal” that was “reminiscent of the Prime Minister's grubby deal to put Peter Slipper into the position of Speaker in the first place”.

“Instead of being remembered as Australia's first female prime minister, she'll be remembered as the prime minister who let down the women of Australia when she was put to the test,” Ms Bishop said.

Nationals Senate Leader Barnaby Joyce said the Government members were utter hypocrites for “one day banging on” about sexism and then voting to keep a sexist MP as Speaker.

Liberal senator Eric Abetz joined the attack: “We had Ms Gillard defending Peter Slipper all day yesterday until Peter Slipper came to his own conclusion that his position was untenable.”

Some MPs also realised their most private communications might now be open to scrutiny and judgement, and Queensland Liberal Andrew Laming admitted some of his texts might not pass.

“I wouldn't be able to stand by them, I suspect. They're personal, many of them would be incredibly embarrassing. It'd be extremely hard to have those released,” Mr Laming said.

Asked if embarrassing messages might cost him parliamentary office he said: “If it came to that and they were released and that was the view of the public when they saw those text messages, I would have to wear that, absolutely.”

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek defended the Government's decision not to support yesterday's no-confidence motion in Mr Slipper. But she condemned the former Speaker's text messages.

“The Parliament of Australia is not a kangaroo court,” Ms Plibersek said. “It's not a Star Chamber.

“The language was highly inappropriate. I condemned it yesterday before Peter Slipper resigned. So did the Prime Minister, so did all of us on the Labor side of Parliament. And - but it's not a Star Chamber.”

Ms Plibersek said the Prime Minister could not possibly have known of Mr Slipper's activities when she backed him as Speaker about 12 months ago.

“Well, we don't make judgements based on rumours about people,” she said.

Meanwhile overseas, the Guardian also republished the video, although without editorial comment.

And a writer for The Spectator said there was "much to admire" about the speech which had left Mr Abbott "carved to pieces".

Popular site Buzzfeed published a series of images and the video the speech, calling it "awesome".

In the US a blogger for the New Statesman compared Ms Gillard to the Incredible Hulk, beginning his report with "The Australian PM is angry. You wouldn't like her when she's angry."

A blogger at the influential Business Insider linked to the video, with the headline "An Australian politician shrinks in embarrassment, as the prime minister destroys him for being a misogynist". The article became a social media hit, spreading across Twitter and Facebook.

The speech also made headlines in South Africa, Canada and India.

Social media helped spread news of the speech, with "Gillard" hitting the top ten Twitter trends in Australia and also trending internationally.

In the UK actor Chris Addison, from hit political satire The Thick of It, retweeted a link to the video saying "This is the best smackdown I've ever seen. Glorious. Advance, Australia Fair!"

He then tweeted again: "That Julia Gillard speech is mesmerising. You can see the colour drain from him. Wonderful."