Abbott scorns ‘gossip’
FORMER prime minister Tony Abbott refused to be drawn yesterday about a controversial new book that canvasses rumours of an alleged romantic involvement with his former chief of staff, Peta Credlin.
FORMER prime minister Tony Abbott refused to be drawn yesterday about a controversial new book that canvasses rumours of an alleged romantic involvement with his former chief of staff, Peta Credlin.
The Warringah MP said people should look at the objective performance of the Abbott Opposition and the Abbott Government, rather than rumours in a book, The Road To Ruin: How Tony Abbott And Peta Credlin Destroyed Their Own Government.
Mr Abbott was speaking at Bear Cottage at Manly, which is one of two charities that will benefit from his participation in this year’s Pollie Pedal.
The hospice is currently being upgraded using money promised by him while he was prime minister in 2013.
Pollie Pedal is a charity cycling event featuring politicians, community leaders and sporting identities.
For Mr Abbott, the ride will come as a welcome distraction from the commentary about the book written by journalist Niki Savva.
Mr Abbott told the Manly Daily: “First of all, I don’t respond to scurrilous gossip, secondly, I don’t want to rake over old coals and, thirdly, I want to focus on the election of the Turnbull Government because that’s what Australia needs at the election this year,” he said.
Asked if he was annoyed by the book and the attention it had received, Mr Abbott said: “I’m human, so people can I guess expect the same reactions from me as from anyone else in a similar situation”.
Mr Abbott would also not be drawn on the two council boundary proposals, one of which would put his Davidson home in Greater Pittwater while the other would place it in the centre of a single council.
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