Liz Truss struggled to answer questions on the history of remarks made by Tony Abbott – the former Australian prime minister who has reportedly been asked to help Britain drum up trade agreements around the world.

In an awkward interview, the international trade secretary – who is also the minister for women and equalities – refused to be drawn on whether he was a suitable figure to represent the UK.

Mr Abbott has been accused by both the Labour Party and leading political figures in Australia of misogyny, homophobia and downplaying the science on climate change.

Questioned about some of his previous comments by ITV News, Ms Truss repeatedly said Mr Abbott was the “former prime minister of Australia” – and suggested his trade experience was the only relevant thing in deciding if he will take up a leading role on Britain’s Board of Trade.

Asked by ITV's Harry Horton, "Why is it right that someone who’s widely viewed as sexist, homophobic and a climate-change denier should be representing Britain around the world?", Ms Truss responded that: “What I’d say about Tony Abbott is that he’s a former prime minister of Australia."

“Australia is a key ally of the United Kingdom and he has done a very good job in areas like trade," she added.

Asked again if she was personally comfortable with Mr Abbot’s remarks, Ms Truss said: “Look, I’m not going to spend my time commenting on comments other people have made in the past.”

Reminded she was the minister for woman and equalities, she said: “I’m the minister for women and equalities in Britain … I don’t think my commenting on previous comments by somebody else is remotely relevant.”

Mr Abbott is to be appointed “joint president” of the UK’s Board of Trade, according to The Sun, while other reports have suggested he is being lined up for an “advisory role”.

The former prime minister, who stepped down in 2015 after losing a leadership contest in his right-wing Liberal Party and lost his seat as an MP last year, is no stranger to controversy.

He was accused of misogyny in a famous speech by Australia’s former Labour prime minister Julia Gillard after he questioned whether men having more power than women was necessarily “a bad thing”.

Mr Abbott once described a young, female Liberal candidate as having “sex appeal”, campaigned against same-sex marriage and suggested climate change is “probably doing good”.

Shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry said she was “disgusted that Boris Johnson thinks this offensive, leering, cantankerous, climate change-denying, Trump-worshipping misogynist is the right person to represent our country overseas”.