TONY Abbott has flown to Sydney for a 20-minute press conference on foreign investment during a parliamentary sitting week despite the nation’s political journalists all remaining in Canberra.

The Prime Minister fired up the VIP jet, with its RAAF flight attendants and first class service, for a quick trip to Sydney to unveil the government’s foreign investment options paper along with his Treasurer Joe Hockey.

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Asked why he made the trip to Sydney, instead of remaining in Canberra as is the standard practice on a sitting day, Mr Abbott said he did so because Sydney was the “epicentre” of real estate issues.

The Prime Minister also spent time with a local homeowner prior to his press conference.

“Sydney is the epicentre of these sorts of real estate pressures,” the Prime Minister said.

“It’s very important we are here.”

Pressed further on whether he was trying to avoid the full scrutiny of the Canberra press gallery, Mr Abbott dismissed such commentary as “Canberra naval gazing”.

And as he was hammered with questions as he wrapped up the press conference the Prime Minister said he had to “get back to Canberra”.

Mr Abbott’s trip to Sydney follows a similar move yesterday when the Prime Minister conducted an interview on the Nine Network’s Today show from his office rather than making the short walk up to the press gallery studio as previous Prime Ministers have done.

Mr Abbott has been under increasing pressure recently over the continued leaks about his leadership.

Mr Abbott and Joe Hockey today fronted the media in Sydney to unveil the government’s planned response to increasing foreign investment.

Under plans being considered by the government foreigners wanting to purchase established homes would have to pay an application fee that could raise up to $200 million a year for the government.

Mr Abbott said the government would establish a specialised compliance and enforcement area within the Australian Taxation Office to identify and investigate breaches along with a range of other measures.

“We want Australians to be on a level playing field,” Mr Abbott said.

“The application fee is not to deter people it is to ensure foreigners are paying their way.”

Treasurer Joe Hockey said the funds from an application fee would help to pay for the increasing work of the Foreign Investment Review Board.