Spruiking the merits of his revamped ministry, which includes a female health minister, the Prime Minister ran foul of social media, Labor and the Greens when asked about his greatest achievement for Australian women in the past year.

Mr Abbott, who is also minister for women, nominated his government’s axing of Labor’s carbon tax.

‘‘As many of us know, women are particularly focused on the household budget and the repeal of the carbon tax means a $550-a-year benefit for the average family,’’ he said on Monday.

This caused flurry of criticism on Twitter linked to the trending hashtags #thankstony and #PutYourIronOut.

For some, Mr Abbott’s remark revived memories of another carbon tax comment in 2010 when, as opposition leader, he claimed its impact on electricity prices would impact greatly on women as they did the ironing.

Acting opposition leader Penny Wong said Mr Abbott was out of touch.

Greens leader Christine Milne said, ‘‘He might as well have said his greatest achievement was to help women buy a better iron so they can stay home and iron more often.’’

Mr Abbott also nominated his government’s planned improvements to childcare arrangements and his upscaled paid parental leave scheme.

‘‘And obviously I’m very pleased that I was able to promote three women in my own ministry,’’ he added.

The most powerful female MP in government, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, backed Mr Abbott, saying he was focused on policy changes that supported families and households.

‘‘Women’s policy is everyone’s policy. What’s good for women is good for the community generally,’’ she said.

Ms Bishop will be joined in cabinet by Sussan Ley, who was elevated to health minister in Mr Abbott’s reshuffle of frontbench positions.

‘‘I believe I’ve proved my worth,’’ Ms Ley said.

Mr Abbott also promoted backbenchers Kelly O’Dwyer and Karen Andrews to parliamentary secretary positions.

He denied the government was in damage control in  the reshuffle, after admitting it had experienced a ‘‘ragged’’ end to 2014.  

AAP