Tony Abbott has defended Donald Trump and taken a swipe at Hillary Clinton, saying the Republican nominee's positions are "reasonable enough" and his supporters are "not deplorables" but voters simply seeking change in America.

Mr Abbott's intervention in the United States election comes as Hillary Clinton's lead over Mr Trump widened to double-digits following the release of numerous historical tapes in which Mr Trump brags that he can get away with grabbing women by the pussy because he is a star.

Mr Abbott described the tapes as "absolutely disgusting" but condemned NSW MPs for wasting parliamentary time to pass a motion calling Mr Trump a "revolting slug".

"The tapes that have been playing over the last few days are gross, gross beyond belief and I think they are completely indefensible," Mr Abbott told right-wing Sky News commentator Paul Murray on Thursday night.