Former prime minister Tony Abbott has responded to a new book detailing the final months of his leadership, parts of which he has labelled "gossip and smear".

Key points: Nikki Savva's book alleges affair between Tony Abbott and chief of staff Peta Credlin

Nikki Savva's book alleges affair between Tony Abbott and chief of staff Peta Credlin Abbott says affair claims are "scurrilous gossip"

Abbott says affair claims are "scurrilous gossip" Liberal backbencher Natasha Griggs and former leader John Hewson join in dismissing revelations

The book, written by political commentator Niki Savva, tracks Mr Abbott's rise to power and his demise, arguing that his chief of staff Peta Credlin shouldered a significant amount of blame for what went wrong.

Savva's book revealed that Mr Abbott was told to dump Ms Credlin over the "perception" they were having an affair, which Mr Abbott dismissed as "scurrilous gossip and smear".

In a statement issued on Tuesday, he said he would not respond to claims made in the book and was instead focussed on the election of the Turnbull Government.

"The best response to this book is the objective record of the Abbott government," he said.

"After fighting Labor to a draw in 2010 and winning a strong majority in 2013, the Abbott government substantially delivered on its commitments.

"A dysfunctional opposition couldn't win an election and a dysfunctional government couldn't have got so much done in just two years."

Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells confirmed she confronted both Mr Abbott and Ms Credlin about rumours circulating among colleagues that he was "sleeping with her".

Both denied the affair.

Liberal backbencher Natasha Griggs said it was offensive that people would weigh in on the allegations without putting their names to their comments.

Ms Griggs told 7.30 it was "pretty sad" that the revelations were making news on the eve of International Women's Day.

"We've got lots of scuttlebutt around from commentators about a hard-working, professional woman that has worked with a male," she said.

"I mean, I thought those days were gone."

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Former Liberal leader John Hewson also dismissed the revelations as "political gossip".

"It will last a day or two, I think, then it will move on," he told the ABC.

Mr Hewson said the downfall of the Abbott government lay not with Ms Credlin, but with Mr Abbott's failure to transition into government.

"They tried to carry on as if they were in opposition in government," he said.

"And it looked very much to people very early on that they weren't capable of making that transition."

Former minister defends Credlin against bullying claims

The book also contains direct quotes from a former staffer who worked with Ms Credlin previously and described her behaviour towards her as "bullying".

However, former health minister Kay Patterson said that Ms Credlin being tired could have caused her being "short and annoyed".

"I think there are two things that happened. One is that she demands perfection. And she most probably was very tired and may have been sometimes short or quite annoyed with people," Ms Patterson told 7.30.

"I know, as I was in the ministry, I sometimes thought: 'I don't like the person I am today. I'm very tired and I haven't been very polite to people.'

"You're never going to be perfect, but I can't imagine that on a constant basis Peta was like that, from the Peta I know."