Tony Abbott has weighed into the debate over his chief of staff, saying sexism could be behind some of the criticism.
Coalition MPs have publicly and privately expressed concerns about Peta Credlin centralising control of the government in the prime minister’s office and not listening to them.
There have also been reports of a rift between Credlin and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, and speculation she might run in the Victorian seat of Menzies held by Families Minister Kevin Andrews.
Abbott said there was at least some sexism at play.
“Do you really think that my chief of staff would be under this kind of criticism if her name was P-E-T-E-R as opposed to P-E-T-A?” he said on Friday.
“I think people need to take a long, hard look at themselves with some of these criticisms.”
Abbott said if people had a problem with his office, they should bring the complaints to him.
“This is the same office which ran a very effective opposition, it’s the same office which has got an enormous amount done this year, sometimes under very difficult circumstances,” he said.
Andrews told reporters in Melbourne there was no rift, but a lot of “mischief making” over Credlin.
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“She’s doing a bloody good job in difficult circumstances. It’s one of the most difficult jobs in the country,” he said.
The coalition’s task was to stick to its policies and programs and “that’s what we all should be doing”.
“Let me be blunt about this – we’re not changing the leader, the treasurer or the chief of staff,” the minister said.
Asked whether Abbott should appoint more than one woman to cabinet, Andrews said: “Look, there’s changes over time in political parties.”
Abbott as opposition leader was attacked by former prime minister Julia Gillard as a misogynist in a speech that attracted worldwide media attention.
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