Premier Denis Napthine has told outspoken pro-life Liberal backbencher Bernie Finn his comments on abortion are "totally wrong" and were detracting from the government's message of improving Victoria.

Mr Finn triggered controversy this week when he told Werribee-Hoppers Crossing-Point Cook Star newspaper that many rapists and paedophiles were using abortion to destroy evidence of their crimes.

Bernie Finn Credit:Matthew Furneaux

"In this day and age, no, I don't think there is any acceptable reason for having an abortion," Mr Finn said.

"In years gone by when they needed to kill the baby to save the mother then it might have been acceptable, but in today's world I think that's a very 1950s argument."