Tony Abbott’s former chief of staff Peta Credlin has warned the Liberal party that the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, is gaining ground before the election.

Credlin told the News Corp paper The Sunday Telegraph: “Bill Shorten is getting his act together. The opposition is getting their act together.

“The presentation is smarter and they are really fighting to win the picture war each day with their events and their press conferences.

“When people are busy at night getting kids through the bath and into bed or getting home from work, the quick look at Labor says their leader is confident and his team is looking united. As with all elections, it’s the government’s to lose.

“The real contest will soon start once we get into the policies and consider how they impact everyday people, our economy and our security.”

Credlin is joining the paper as a columnist next week.



Last week Abbott told conservative pundit Andrew Bolt he does not expect the Liberal party to ever go back on the decision to replace him as leader even though the polls continue to slide for his replacement, Malcolm Turnbull.

Abbott told Bolt he had received some 4,000 letters and emails since the party dumped him in September last year. Bolt said his program was inundated with people who want Abbott returned to the top job.

Of whether Abbott would ever return as prime minister, Credlin told News Corp: “I’ve seen too much happen that means you don’t rule anything out in politics. But he’s best placed to make that judgment.

“I am a Liberal and I will be upfront – I hope the Coalition is returned because I believe they are best placed to deliver the sort of government Australia needs now.”