Australia's opposition leader has drawn fierce criticism after suggesting that the cost of ironing clothes was a key concern of the country's housewives in the debate around global warming.

Tony Abbot made the comments at a dry cleaning business outside Canberra when explaining to reporters how the price of electricity would rise under a Government scheme to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

But the politician instead turned attention on himself, with critics branding him sexist and 'behind the times'.