Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has branded the prime minister's remarks in front of the world’s leaders on Saturday ‘weird and graceless’.

After Tony Abbott attempted to take control of the G20 heavyweights at a meeting at Queensland’s Parliament House in Brisbane – telling them they should call each other by their first names – the Labor leader hit out.

Mr Abbott cited his own difficulties with the Australian budget - particularly in gaining support for proposed higher education changes and the $7 GP co-payment - as examples of the need to persist with important reforms

Mr Shorten said the lunchtime discussion was a missed opportunity to promote Australia's position as a global leader.