Tony Abbot has spoken with ABC television in response to criticisms from within his own Liberal Party. The PM's actions came in the face of engagement by Liberal Party politicians, who insisted upon anonymity, with Fairfax Media about chief advisor Peta Credlin, who has been the subject of disgruntled discussion within the party for a lengthy period of time.
There was no ambiguity in Mr Abbott's words, as he informed the reporter that he thinks his colleagues "need to take a long hard look at themselves". During a week when Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull was accused of going back on a pre-election commitment, Mr Abbott showed a side of his political face that is in contrast with a speech he delivered in 2012. Two years ago, Mr Abbott criticised the Labor Party for using the "gender card" when they were't using the "class war card", but in Friday's interview, he strongly implied that sexism was the issue, asking: "Do you really think my chief of staff would be under this kind of criticism if her name was Peter as opposed to Peta?"
Ms Credlin is in a particularly tricky situation because she is married to the Liberal Party's federal director Brian Loughnane. One of the foremost issues identified by Liberal Party ministers has been a perceived inability to raise issues about Mr Abbott's office or the federal secretariat because of Mr Loughnane's and Ms Credlin's involvement with both. Mr Abbott has let MPs know that his door is always open to hear any concerns, but also reminded them that the current Liberal leadership was won alongside Ms Credlin.
Ms Credlin has not appeared publicly since this week's criticisms, but gave a speech at a ladies Methodist college in August. The chief advisor told the audience that she grew up with a father who encouraged her to be assertive, and that she does not like being presented by the media in relation to her husband. She also expressed other frustrations with the media:
"It takes a certain level of courage to let slide some negative comments you might cop in the media from a few disgruntled blokes who don't like a woman in charge".
However, not everyone stood apart from Mr Abbott this week. Junior Liberal minister Jamie Briggs condemned his "gutless" colleagues for speaking with the media before consulting with Ms Credlin directly, while former Queensland LNP Senator Sue Boyce said that "if politicians like Tony Abbott are calling it [sexism] out than I think that's great"