The Greens leader Bob Brown has declared the "unrelenting criticism" of Prime Minister Julia Gillard is sexist and said male media commentators were the biggest culprits.

Senator Brown hit out this morning in his first press conference of the parliamentary year at what he perceived was "unfair", sexist criticism of Ms Gillard.

Greens leader Senator Bob Brown says media attacks on Prime Minister Julia Gillard are sexist. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"What I've picked up over the summer holidays is there is a big swing around from the average punter in favour of Julia Gillard," he said.

"She is getting a rough time and let me state this as others might not be quite so blatant. Quite a bit of the criticism is sexist and unfair and unrelenting and the Prime Minister needs a bit of a break from that and it is time she got that break and the Australian people are indicating she should have it."