Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said Senator Cormann’s comments detracted from issues surrounding the budget.

“I think it is extraordinary that we have a PM who talks about shirtfronting the leader of [another] nation and we now have a Finance Minister who thinks he is Arnold Schwarzenegger,” Ms Plibersek said.

“What Mathias Cormann is missing is that this budget hurts vulnerable Australians.”

Labor’s trade spokeswoman Penny Wong told Sky News the phrase sends a worrying message to younger Australians.

“If we use girl as an insult what are we telling our sons and our daughters about being a girl? You’re saying it’s somehow less confident, weak, whatever the imputation,” Senator Wong said.

“I just don’t think that’s sensible. Imagine if we used any racial term in the way it was used. I think we would all be outraged for the same reasons.”

On Sunday the Finance Minister defended himself, saying that “‘economic girlie-men’ has come to adopt its own meaning”.

“It is not in any way intended as a reflection on girls, it is entirely intended as a reflection on Bill Shorten,” Senator Cormann said in a statement.

Tony Abbotts charm like Ebola  is soooooo  infectious.