Tony Abbott is facing more dissent from within Coalition ranks, with Liberal MP Dennis Jensen criticising not only his leader's decisions regarding the placement of portfolios but also the incoming government's signature policy on paid parental leave.

Dr Jensen, the Member for the West Australian seat of Tangney, has told ABC News 24 he is "confused" about which minister will handle the science portfolio.

Yesterday, Mr Abbott said science would "largely" be in the industry portfolio, under incoming minister Ian Macfarlane.

But Dr Jensen, who had expressed interest in taking on the responsibility, believes some of it will be within education.

"I'm somewhat confused about what's happened with the science portfolio. It's not just completely with the industry portfolio, there's parts of it within education which will make it a somewhat schizophrenic policy area," he said.

"This is something that to me is strange.

"I mean we've got a Minister for Sport for God's sake, but we don't have a Minister for Science."

Dr Jensen, who gained a PhD in materials science and physics before entering Parliament, says the area of science is in "crisis".

"There are numerous issues related to science that need to have a very clear focus, and certainly splitting it into two portfolios is not going to provide that clear focus," he said.

"It appears that we don't have a coherent policy on it.

"I guess this is the problem with not having people of scientific bent in decision-making processes, where people don't understand science generally."

Australia's Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, says he has concerns that the delivery and development of science is already too fragmented.

"Already it's spread across multiple budget lines; at the last count we had something over 70 spread over something to the order of 14 portfolios and we could miss things if we aren't strategic in the way we go about it," he told ABC TV News.

However, Mr MacFarlane says previous Coalition ministers have successfully managed a similar workload.

"I guess in the end it's how good your department is and how good your staff are and I'll be trying to make sure I hire the best staff possible and I've got absolute confidence in the calibre of the public servants in Canberra," he said.

He says he hopes he can work with Dr Jensen and has defended his own credentials.

"I think anyone who knows me knows that I am a bit of an invention and innovation, freak and gadget person," he said.

"I'm the son of a scientist, the grandson of a scientist, I've always loved science. I base my politics around the facts of science."

'Disunity' among Coalition's ranks: Bowen

The Labor Party has seized on Dr Jensen's comments as a "sign of disunity" in the Government.

Acting Labor leader Chris Bowen says the omission of science from specific mention in the list of portfolios is a "great gap".

"We are seeing what is frankly, in my view, a botched Cabinet reshuffle," he said.

"Key portfolios have been left off; the embarrassment of only one woman being put into the Cabinet."

Yesterday, Mr Abbott was criticised by senior female Liberal figures figures for his decision to include only incoming Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop on the frontbench.

But senior Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop, who is expected to be the next Speaker, has defended Mr Abbott.

She said women must be chosen on merit and, in time, several female backbenchers would be in line for promotion.

Jensen has 'problems' with PPL plans

Dr Jensen has also ramped up his criticism of Mr Abbott's multi-billion-dollar paid parental leave (PPL) scheme, which the incoming Prime Minister has said he is "deeply" committed to.

"The problem is this is an idea that someone has had which has then become policy and I believe that it hasn't been properly thought through at all," he said.

He wants the policy to go to the Productivity Commission for a cost-benefit analysis, and has held out the possibility of voting against it when it comes before Parliament.

"I'd have to wait and see where the policy goes," he said when asked if he would support it.

"Right at the moment, it's fair to say that I have problems with it."

He says he has had dozens of constituents contact him about the policy and they were "not in favour of it".

Dr Jensen has been an outspoken member of the Coalition since entering Parliament in 2004.

He has sat on various parliamentary committees but has not been elevated to the ministry.

Mr Abbott's paid parental leave scheme, which he describes as "fair dinkum", would give a baby's primary carer six months' leave on the mother's full pay, up to an annual salary of $150,000.

It is slated to cost $5.5 billion a year and will begin from July 1, 2015.

Currently, the national PPL scheme pays the minimum wage, which is $622 a week, for 18 weeks.