"Whatever is left of Tony Abbott’s reputation is about to be shredded with a new book containing a string of revelations about the incompetence of his government, including on questions of national security."
"She was his disciplinarian, his brain.
“Peta Credlin became his best friend, strongest ally, his facilitator, his crutch,” Mr Patrick said."
"Abbott used Credlin as a crutch to do his dirty work, trying to enforce his socially conservative agenda across the whole of government. Australians are not like that. We are a liberal society."
"Mr Patrick said while both Ms Credlin and Mr Abbott refused to speak to him for the book, he was surprised by how much assistance others gave him, figures within the Liberal Party and within the bureaucracy.
“Ms Credlin alienated so many people, she just destroyed a lot of Mr Abbott’s good will within his own party,” Mr Patrick said. "
"As to why the Australian public continue to be fascinated by Abbott in a kind of gawkish way, as if rubbernecking at a car crash, Mr Patrick said: “In terms of the book, I am glad Abbott is hanging around.
“Abbott is still a story, and the effect he is going to have on the Australian government is an open question. "
"“People have a fascination for Abbott because he is a truly weird man, and he got to be Prime Minister, which is pretty remarkable.”
Credlin & Co: How the Abbott Government Destroyed Itself will be available from February 1."
