Former prime minister Tony Abbott has been criticised for a "tasteless" tribute to Bob Hawke, who he described as having a "Labor heart but a Liberal head".

Key points: The Member for Warringah was accused of using Hawke's death for political point-scoring

The Member for Warringah was accused of using Hawke's death for political point-scoring Scott Morrison said "they're not the words" he would have used

Scott Morrison said "they're not the words" he would have used Labor leader Bill Shorten said Mr Abbott was "a man under pressure"

Mr Hawke died aged 89 last night, and Mr Abbott posted a statement describing Mr Hawke as "Labor's greatest prime minister", before taking a swipe at his political opponents.

"But his key achievements — financial deregulation, tariffs cuts, and the beginnings of privatisation — went against the Labor grain, as Labor's more recent policy direction shows," his statement read.

"You might also say he had a Labor heart, but a Liberal head."

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The Member for Warringah — who is locked in a tight tussle to hold his seat this weekend — was accused of politicising Mr Hawke's death.

On Friday morning, Mr Abbott gave a more glowing reflection on Mr Hawke's leadership.

"He was the best Labor prime minister ever and the challenge for all of us is to be worthy of the great's of the past and that's what I certainly hope to do," he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison criticised Mr Abbott's "Liberal head" statement from last night.

"Well, they're not the words I obviously used," he said.

"I think everyone was seeking to be generous about that.

"I mean, a Liberal saying that, I would hope, would not seek to be partisan.

"I think it was more about a broad spectrum of views he was able to embrace ... and that's certainly how I choose to look at that."

'Abbott is a man under pressure'

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 6 seconds 1 m 6 s Political leaders dismiss Abbott's comments about Hawke. ( ABC News )

Speaking on ABC News Breakfast, Labor leader Bill Shorten chuckled as he repeated Mr Abbott's "Liberal head" statement.

"I suspect Tony Abbott is a man under pressure," Mr Shorten said.

"I know Bob, I don't think he would've paid too much attention to what Tony Abbott said to be honest."

After releasing his statement last night, Mr Abbott subsequently posted a photo of himself and Hawke from 2015, extending condolences to his family but making no reference to his previous tweet.

"He had a the capacity to reach out to everyone across party lines. He was a great Australian," he wrote.

"Margie and I extend our deepest sympathies to Blanche and his family."

Mr Abbott's statement was widely condemned on social media.

"A rare combination of thoughtless, tactless, heartless, clueless and tasteless," The Monthly's Richard Cooke tweeted.

Olympian Nova Peris tweeted: "What an awful statement. Shame on you."

Labor figures rejected suggestions Mr Hawke held Liberal sentiments, with federal senator and former NSW premier Kristina Keneally noting the Liberals had opposed him on several signature policies.

"[Tony Abbott] is wrong on the facts and so wrong in his sentiment," she said.