Abbott, IVF and me: adviser speaks

Peta Credlin has been one of the key figures behind the rise of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Labor has accused Tony Abbott of trying to jack up his standing with female voters after his top adviser, Peta Credlin, gave an unprecedented interview defending her boss against sexism claims and talking about her own IVF treatment.

Ms Credlin, who is Mr Abbotts chief-of-staff, has taken the unusual step of speaking to womens magazine Marie Claire, describing her boss as deeply supportive of her efforts to have a child through IVF with her husband, Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane.

The Liberal Party research must be showing that Mr Abbott does have a problem with women, and that he is trying to do something about it.

This included keeping her fertility drugs in his parliamentary office fridge.

Peta Credlin has revealed a battle to conceive a child through IVF. Photo: Andrew Meares

The normally private Ms Credlin, 41, told the magazine Mr Abbotts views on abortion, contraception and IVF were far more balanced and nuanced than many people believe.

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But Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the Opposition Leader was clearly trying to fix his image problem with women. Australians would ultimately judge him on his public comments over his nearly two decades in politics, she said.

"Mr Abbott is not a new figure on the public field. He has many years of record to stand by and those are the things that people rightly will judge him on," Ms Roxon said. "I think its clear from these sorts of stories that the Liberal Party research must be showing that Mr Abbott does have a problem with women, and that he is trying to do something about it."

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Abbott, IVF and me: adviser speaks