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Tony Abbott ‘told to dump Peta Credlin over rumours of affair’ Tony Abbott ‘told to dump Peta Credlin over rumours of affair’
(6 months later)
Tony Abbott was warned he would lose the prime ministership unless he dumped chief of staff Peta Credlin, a new book claims.Tony Abbott was warned he would lose the prime ministership unless he dumped chief of staff Peta Credlin, a new book claims.
NSW Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells told Abbott in February 2015 – on the eve of a leadership spill vote – the perception he was having an affair with Credlin was damaging him.NSW Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells told Abbott in February 2015 – on the eve of a leadership spill vote – the perception he was having an affair with Credlin was damaging him.
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“Rightly or wrongly, the perception is that you are sleeping with your chief of staff,” Fierravanti-Wells told Abbott, according to Niki Savva’s book The Road to Ruin.“Rightly or wrongly, the perception is that you are sleeping with your chief of staff,” Fierravanti-Wells told Abbott, according to Niki Savva’s book The Road to Ruin.
“That’s the perception, and you need to deal with it.”“That’s the perception, and you need to deal with it.”
Abbott had calmly denied to Fierravanti-Wells rumours of an affair and refused to sack Credlin, Savva wrote.Abbott had calmly denied to Fierravanti-Wells rumours of an affair and refused to sack Credlin, Savva wrote.
Liberal party members voted against a spill on February 9, 2015.Liberal party members voted against a spill on February 9, 2015.
Days later Credlin told Fierravanti-Wells Abbott would not be able to do his job without her.Days later Credlin told Fierravanti-Wells Abbott would not be able to do his job without her.
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“One day Tony will be sitting on a park bench in Manly feeding the pigeons, and he will blame you,” Fierravanti-Wells replied, according to Savva.“One day Tony will be sitting on a park bench in Manly feeding the pigeons, and he will blame you,” Fierravanti-Wells replied, according to Savva.
The book contains a Liberal MP’s anecdote detailing howCredlin used a fork to feed Abbott food from her plate at a Melbourne restaurant, and later rested her head on his shoulder and said she was tired.The book contains a Liberal MP’s anecdote detailing howCredlin used a fork to feed Abbott food from her plate at a Melbourne restaurant, and later rested her head on his shoulder and said she was tired.
And it claims Abbott kept Indonesian authorities waiting during a foreign visit to smooth tensions with Credlin, who was upset to be left out of a meeting with the Indonesian president.And it claims Abbott kept Indonesian authorities waiting during a foreign visit to smooth tensions with Credlin, who was upset to be left out of a meeting with the Indonesian president.
The book also says Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce warned Abbott of a possible leadership challenge one month before Abbott was deposed.The book also says Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce warned Abbott of a possible leadership challenge one month before Abbott was deposed.
Abbott reportedly changed the subject.Abbott reportedly changed the subject.
He was toppled by Malcolm Turnbull in a leadership ballot last September.He was toppled by Malcolm Turnbull in a leadership ballot last September.