The Opposition Leader has told The Australian Women’s Weekly, in an article to be published today, that he would advise his daughters not to give away their virginity ‘‘lightly’’.

It is ‘‘the greatest gift’’ you can give someone, he says.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard believes Mr Abbott’s comments will leave many females fuming. ‘‘These comments will confirm the worst fears of Australian women about Tony Abbott,’’ Ms Gillard said yesterday.

‘‘Australian women don’t want to be told what to do by Tony Abbott.

‘‘Australian women want to make their own choices and they don’t want to be lectured to by Mr Abbott.’’

Mr Abbott admits many women don’t like him. The actual percentage is probably more than 10 but less than 70 per cent, he says.

The conservative Catholic’s image problem with women stems from his strong stance against freeing up the abortion drug RU486 when he was health minister. He also swore at current Health Minister Nicola Roxon in 2007 when she was in opposition.

Mr Abbott admitted yesterday his media advisers would have had kittens after hearing of his latest remarks.

But he insisted he wasn’t being prescriptive.

‘‘I’m not trying to be a preacher,’’ the former seminary student told Fairfax Radio Network.

‘‘I’m no one’s parish priest. Just because you’re Leader of the Opposition doesn’t mean you’re kind of counsellor of a nation.’’

AAP