In somewhat of an understatement, Bill Shorten has said he thinks Tony Abbott to be "a very unusual man".
The Opposition Leader, speaking at a supermarket with a large "vegetable" sign over his head, was responding to the former Prime Minister's recent comments on Islam -- including calling for a "religious revolution" inside Islam, declaring "all cultures are not equal" and Australians should stop apologising for Western values and culture.
Shorten, asked about Abbott's remarks, gave a blunt assessment.
"I don't know if he's Australia's version of Donald Trump but he's a very unusual man, Tony Abbott," Shorten said.
"We shouldn't have a bar of what he says."
"I think his views are not befitting a former prime minister who was in charge three months ago and I think, really, he may be feeling very upset about his loss of office, he may see this as an issue which he can now speak out on but I ask him as a former prime minister of Australia to please respect the fact that we are a country of all faiths and all religions. We must have tolerance."
Not exactly Shorten's finest zinger, but it got to the point and didn't muck around. It does the job.