Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was forced to repay $9400 in travel expenses accrued while he promoted his book Battlelines in 2009, it has been revealed.

Freedom of information documents show that Mr Abbott repaid the expenses in 2010, despite initially describing the allegations through a spokesman as ''a blatant attempt by Labor to smear and mislead''.

Costly: The price Tony Abbott has to pay for the promotion of Battlelines.

Mr Abbott took the trips in July and August 2009 - before he became Opposition Leader in November 2009 - to promote his book.

The case was revealed at the weekend by former Fairfax Media journalist Margo Kingston, who published the documents on her website, No Fibs.