First look: Peta Credlin tops Australian Women’s Weekly Power List ahead of rare public appearance

GLAMMED up and glossed over, this is Peta Credlin as you’ve never seen her. After a bruising week, she’s finally ready to talk.

UNTIL last week, Peta Credlin was the most powerful woman in Australia.

The chief of staff to former prime minister Tony Abbott was considered so influential she topped this year’s Australian Women’s Weekly annual Power List.

In an awkward twist, the list — and a glamorous accompanying photo shoot — went to print before Mr Abbott’s ousting by Malcolm Turnbull.

Even though Ms Credlin no longer sits in the top office, she remains a divisive figure, with many senior Liberal party members blaming her for Mr Abbott’s demise.

Last night on Four Corners former minister Amanda Vanstone criticised her, as did the former Liberal Party treasurer Michael Yabsley.

Their comments come on top of a damning column by Niki Savva in The Australian last week where she was accused of “destroying” Tony Abbott.

The Australian Women’s Weekly says her place in the power rankings was a source of controversy long before she lost her job.

Credlin, described in the mag as “the girl from the small Victorian town of Wycheproof ... who has risen through the political ranks to become the most high-profile and controversial political staffer Australia has seen”, this year knocks off Julie Bishop from the number one spot.

The deputy Liberal leader, who managed to maintain her position in last week’s coup while shoving Ms Credlin from hers, topped the list last year but has now slipped to number two. Sitting at number three is deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek.

The decision between Ms Credlin and Ms Bishop, the magazine notes “was the subject of intense debate among the judges”.

The judging panel, which voted “narrowly in favour” of Ms Credlin, included the magazine’s editor-in-chief Helen McCabe, The Australian editor Clive Mathieson, Australia’s new First Lady Lucy Turnbull and ABC’s outgoing director of news Kate Torney.

Outgoing ABC news director Kate Torney was a judge in the Australian Woman’s Weekly list.

Lucy Turnbull was on the panel that judged Peta Credlin was the most powerful woman in Australia. Picture: David Moir

The publication of the list in the magazine’s October issue, out Thursday, coincides with a rare public engagement for Ms Credlin, and her first since Mr Abbott was dumped.

The former prime minister’s gatekeeper will speak on a panel at an exclusive gala dinner celebrating The Weekly’s Women of the Future Awards tonight.

Despite continuing leaks about how her performance contributed to Abbott’s downfall, it is understood that rather than dish out political commentary, Ms Credlin will instead try to focus on advice to young Australian women.

Also in attendance at the event, to be broadcast on Sky News, will be Lucy Turnbull, opposition leader Bill Shorten’s wife Chloe Shorten and former Governor-General Quentin Bryce among other influential Australian women.

Ms Credlin is usually very private, and the event will be a chance for her to speak in the wake of criticism about her much maligned “tyrannical” reign during her time working for Mr Abbott.

Though she’s been out of the prime minister’s office for a week, the criticism and damaging leaks against her haven’t stopped, with Liberal heavyweights blasting her role in Abbott’s demise on last night’s Four Corners.

Peta Credlin has copped a lot of criticism, but tonight is her chance to set the record straight. Picture: Sam Mooy

Former Liberal Party treasurer Michael Yabsley told the program that she had become the “de facto chief” who had done damage to a “raft of relationships” that Mr Abbott needed.

“In so many respects, she came to have the role with the prime minister’s colleagues that the prime minister should have had and this made her an extraordinarily powerful person,” he said.

Former Liberal senator Amanda Vanstone said: “People felt she was more of a doorway blocking off access to the prime minister rather than a bridge”.

But supporters of the divisive figure have told news.com.au they were concerned for their friend, who “would be hurting” now.

“It’s not the Peta I know,” former senator Kay Patterson, who gave Credlin her start in Canberra, said.

“I am dismayed, I just can’t believe somebody could be attacked so personally, without asking for any of it.”

Writing in her editor’s letter, The Weekly’s editor in chief Helen McCabe acknowledged recent events had seen the list “overrun by events”, but she still found it appropriate to include the political power player.

“It is an opportunity to pay tribute to Ms Credlin’s extraordinary career,” she wrote.

Tonight, all eyes will be on Credlin to see what she makes of her opportunity to grab the spotlight.

Originally published as First look: Peta Credlin tops Australian Women’s Weekly Power List ahead of rare public appearance