The fundraiser Prime Minister Tony Abbott attended that sparked a furore over his use of entitlements was held for cabinet mInister Kevin Andrews, Fairfax Media has learned.

Mr Abbott skipped a traditional dinner with government senators to attend the fundraiser, held in Melbourne on Monday night. His trip became front page news when he admitted to his partyroom that he booked a visit to a cancer centre early the next morning, so the interstate trip could be justified under entitlements.

Kevin Andrews refused to comment when asked for details. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Abbott stunned his colleagues with the comment because although it is a common for MPs to combine official and party duties on trips, it is rare for a politician to admit to the practice for the purposes of entitlements.

Mr Andrews refused to comment when asked for details about Monday night's fundraiser including how much it raised. One source said it was being noted that the Prime Minister was fundraising for a federal MP two years out from the next federal election and the Victorian state election less than one hundred days away. But Fairfax Media understands Mr Abbott held a similar fundraiser for the state campaign the week prior.