Tony Abbott

Abbott, O'Farrell have equal claim to Menzies' legacy

Gerard Henderson Premier Barry O'Farrell is a proud follower of Robert Menzies (1894 to 1978), the founder of the modern Liberal Party.

Michael Gordon

The remaking of Tony Abbott: a seven-month Liberal project

Michael Gordon Tony Abbott gave voters a glimpse of a very different prime ministership when he stepped up to the podium at the National Press Club.

Comments directed at Tony Abbott

Paul Sheehan The following comments were selected from hundreds drawn predominantly from Hansard but also other published records.

Katharine Murphy

Tony Abbott's women problem

Katharine Murphy He may have not think he has a women problem, but some seem to have a problem with him.

Michelle Grattan

Tony Abbott scales moral mountain

Michelle Grattan There is no doubt that many on the conservative side, especially Jones, have taken an ''anything goes'' attitude when it comes to Gillard. That's why Abbott's attitude to Jones is important.

Tony Abbott's 'real' challenge

Michelle Grattan Today's polls — Nielsen and News — both reinforce the message Abbott has a major issue with his own ratings and, worse for the Coalition, that it is starting to leak into the voting figures.

Memo to Tony Abbott

Jessica Wright We understand. The job market for national leaders is tight these days. You are not alone. Interview performance anxiety is perfectly normal.

Catherine Deveny

I love Tony Abbott - and who wouldn't?

Catherine Deveny I can't stop thinking about him. I've even had his face tattooed on the insides of my eyelids so I can see him the moment I wake up. I'm so obsessed with him I chant his name aloud without realising.

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Tony Wright

Frozen rain, barbeques and jokes about the lotus position: a strange view from Tony Abbott's bike

Tony Wright Tony Abbott has perfected the quick apparel change. Think Superman. One minute he is in sweat-soaked lycra and clonking around in cycling shoes...

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Gerard Henderson

Tony Abbott: separating myths from facts about the Liberal leader

Gerard Henderson In politics it is often difficult to separate fact from myth. Labor parliamentarians and some commentators are now running the line that, due to his rigorous exercise regime, Tony Abbott is not doing...

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Kenneth Davidson

Swan has prepared the way for Austerity Abbott

Kenneth Davidson A clever budget? More likely it gives the Coalition room to wind back the welfare state.

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What sort of prime minister will this man be?

Tim Soutphommasane It is simplistic to think we are entering a new conservative stage in our national politics.

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Abbott's baby bonus in disguise

Anne Summers If Tony Abbott is serious about wanting to boost women's workforce participation, there are more effective and less expensive ways to accomplish this than via his paid parental leave scheme, which...

Seeing sense as end nears

Peter Hartcher Labor's budget this week is like the pyramid of an Egyptian pharaoh, says one of the party's federal MPs: "Gillard is building the monuments for her legacy, and she's sacrificing us slaves in the...

Joe goes into bat and is hit with a Jones bouncer

Jacqueline Maley Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey thought he was having a good week. And he was, right up until the moment he called 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones on Wednesday morning.

Acting a bit more prime ministerial

Chris Johnson There are plenty of people in the current Parliament who, when they deliver an address, look more prime ministerial than Tony Abbott: the actual Prime Minister, for one.