Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Sydney University students are among the 9 awardees of the country's annual Ernie awards for sexism.

While the top award went to the university students for their rape joke, the inclusion of Mr Abbott, who has been accused by his nemesis, former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, of misogyny is significant since the current PM was given the Clinton award for being a repeat sexism offender.

Held on Wednesday night at the New South Wales State Parliament and hosted by Labor MP Linda Burney, the Ernie Awards is on its 21st year. It recognises and honours the most sexist comments made the past year in six categories of media, politics, industry, judicial, celebrity and sport.

The audience was made of 300 women whose boos determined the winners.

The Sydney U students got the Gold Ernie award for giving sway stubby beer holders with the insulting words, "It's not rape if it's my birthday."

Ms Gillard, Australia's first and only female prime minister so far, appears to be a determining factor in declaring some of the winners because aside from Mr Abbott, also included in the award with the Political Silver was MP Mal Brough.

He was the one who organised the Liberal Party dinner and named and item in the menu Julia Gillard Kentucky Fried Quail for having small breasts and huge thighs.

For Media Silver, the awardee was Fairfax columnist Paul Sheehan who described Ms Gillard, when she accused Mr Abbott of misogyny, as "snarling, accusing Abbott of having a hatred of women, a man." The remark was deleted by his publisher.

Professor Paul Wilson was given the Judicial Silver Ernie for his statement that child victims of adult sex offenders are generally willing or active participants and often initiate the sexual relationship.

For the Warney award given for Sport, Nick Riewoldt was chosen because he said his team mate Stephen Milne, accused of 4 counts of rape, must be allowed to play because of his being the heart and soul of their football team.

On the other hand, The Fred award, given to a celebrity, went to radio jock Alan Jones who called Ms Gillard a liar and that the PM's father died out of shame for the alleged lies she told Parliament.

Meredith Burgmann, founder of the Ernies, pointed out that the past 2 years of awards were the worst in its 21-year history linked to Ms Gillard's term as PM which invited negative remarks on the PM.

"The sheer vitriol of some of the attacks on Julia Gillard is hard to stomach," iol News quoted Ms Burgmann.

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