Germaine Greer has teed off on Tony Abbott, dismissing the Opposition Leader as a "clown" and saying he should have been "unelectable".

The British-based Australian academic and author launched the stinging attack as Mr Abbott and Prime Minister Julia Gillard jockey for position following the inconclusive result of Saturday's federal election.

Germaine Greer ... scathing about Tony Abbott. Credit:Rebecca Hallas

"Anyone who thought Australia had a woman PM because of some fundamental change in the nation's psyche was immediately reassured," Ms Greer wrote in London's Daily Telegraph.

"Gillard was pilloried for her 'deliberate' childlessness, her clothes, her morals, her looks, her undeniably unimpressive boyfriend, and her betrayal of Rudd.