A political slanging match has broken out over the traditionally politically neutral subject of Australian victims of terrorism.

Speaking from a Parliament House garden dedicated to the victims of the Bali bombings, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott today called for the government to retrospectively pay Australian victims of terrorism overseas, or their families, about $75,000 each in compensation, including the Bali bombing victims.

About 300 Australians have been killed or injured in such attacks.

Mr Abbott said those caught up in the September 11, 2001, Bali, London, Jakarta and Mumbai attacks had received no government financial assistance.

He also conceded he had spoken to Prime Minister Julia Gillard about the issue and she told him she would have a look at it.

The total cost would be about $30 million for the 300 victims, assuming they got the maximum compensation amount of $75,000 currently paid to Australian victims of crime at home.

"As we prepare to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombing, it is appropriate for the government to make retrospective declarations so that all the Australian victims of overseas terrorism attacks, or their next of kin, can receive this modest but important help," he said.

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon subsequently called a snap media conference to berate Mr Abbott for "politicising" the issue and said Mr Abbott's decision to hold a doorstop at the memorial showed a lack of judgment.

It was "uncouth" and "inappropriate for the Opposition Leader" to field questions from journalists on political issues such as the carbon tax and Senator Bernardi at the Bali memorial, she said.

Ms Roxon also pointed out that both Mr Abbott and the Coalition had been in government for five years from the date of the bombings, yet failed to pass any legislation which would provide assistance or compensation to victims of terrorism.

"Why wasn't this pursued while they were in government?" she said.

"They didn't even establish a compensation scheme, so to now bring passion to it and say it must be done immediately ... it's a bit rich.

"To then use the Bali Memorial facilities to actually conduct a political press conference on a range of everything else, from the carbon tax to his problems with Mr Bernardi, is quite inappropriate.

"We keep seeing time and time again these lack of judgment choices."

Mr Abbott admitted he had raised the issue in 2006 while a minister in the former Howard government, and there was a cabinet discussion in 2007.

"The Howard government was in a bit of difficulty in 2007 and I regret to say that unfortunately this fell through the cracks," he said. "I regret that."

Straight after Mr Abbott's press conference today in the memorial garden, Craig Reucassel from The Chaser repeatedly tried to question the Opposition Leader.

Accompanied by a cameraman, Mr Reucassel wanted to know Mr Abbott's views on using parliamentary footage for satire.

Mr Abbott - who was still escorting a victim and witness of the Bali Bombing - would not engage with The Chaser cast member, telling Mr Reucassel it was "not the time".

As Ms Roxon addressed the media, Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey tweeted: "This a hugely offensive press conf. from Nicola Roxon. They have no judgment at all!"

Moments after Ms Roxon concluded her remarks, deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop fronted the microphones and unleashed a tirade against Labor's "handbag hit squad".

Ms Bishop was scathing of the Attorney-General's comments, saying they were "reprehensible" and "disgusting" and called on Ms Roxon to apologise.

"Day after day we are seeing Labor senior female members trotted out at the behest of the male strategists in the Labor party to attack Tony Abbott," Ms Bishop said.

"We've had enough."

The Deputy Opposition Leader then called on Ms Gillard to pull her "male strategists into line".

During question time, Ms Gillard said that if Mr Abbott believed there were "unmet needs" from the current program of victims assistance then she would "certainly consider them".

The federal government passed compensation laws last year that will cover and award financial assistance to Australians caught up in future international terror attacks.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the assistance had been ad hoc in the past but the government was working "in a bipartisan way" to make things more systemic.

"If the leader of the opposition wants to bring some material to me in any way that suits his convenience or have me speak directly with family members involved, then I'm open to doing that," Ms Gillard said.

MPs Brawl Over Victims Of Terrorism