Prime Minister Tony Abbott was met with opposition outrage when he described rising unemployment in the defence industry as a "holocaust of jobs".

Mr Abbott was answering a Labor question about the latest unemployment figures, including 7.3 percent in the South Australia where defence industry jobs have traditionally been strong.

"Under members opposite, defence jobs in this country declined by 10 percent," Mr Abbott told parliament this afternoon.

"There was a holocaust of jobs in defence industries."

Mr Abbott subsequently apologised and withdrew the comment.

He replaced the word "holocaust" with "decimation".

Today's gaffe is just the latest in a string of embarrassing comments made by the prime minister in recent years.

In December, Mr Abbott told TODAY show host Lisa Wilkinson the repeal of the carbon tax was his greatest achievement as the minister for women, as women are "particularly focused on the household budget".

Wilkinson later tweeted she asked the question because she thought the prime minister might have something to say on domestic violence or the gender pay gap.

In October, Mr Abbott responded to Russia's unhelpful attitude towards the MH17 crash in Ukraine by telling media he would "shirt-front" President Vladimir Putin at the Brisbane G20 summit in November.

The prime minister was ridiculed by international media and Russian officials for the aggressive comment which reportedly never came to fruition.

Mr Abbott sparked a wave of internet memes and parodies in May when he was caught on camera winking during an ABC Radio interview in Melbourne.

The prime minister winked at host Jon Faine when a female caller going by the name of "Gloria" said she had to get a second job as a phone-sex worker to make ends meet in the face of rising costs.

He later admitted he "shouldn't have done it" during an interview with TODAY show host Karl Stefanovic.

"Mistakes are always regrettable Karl, and I will do my best, having made a mistake yesterday to make none today," he said.

During the 2013 election campaign Mr Abbott made two gaffes in two days, first declaring to the Liberal party faithful that no one "is the suppository of all wisdom", before telling media the following day that Fiona Scott, the Liberal candidate for the seat of Lindsay had "a bit of sex appeal".

Years before taking over the top job, Mr Abbott was caught on camera telling soldiers in Afghanistan, who had recently lost a comrade, that "sometimes s--- happens".

The incident snowballed when he was asked by a journalist at Parliament House to explain his comments on camera, but instead reacted with 24 seconds of silent head wobbling.

More recently, Mr Abbott's decision on Australia Day to award a knighthood to Prince Phillip was reportedly slammed by his political idol, former Prime Minister John Howard. Mr Abbott later admitted it was a "captain's call" and a "stuff up".

Liberal backbenchers used the knighthood as proof Mr Abbott was out of touch with the nation, which led to Monday's unsuccessful leadership spill.