The ADA confirmed that Abbott did have a trip planned. It was in several articles - here is one:
"THE Australian Defence Association has backed Opposition Leader Tony Abbott amid claims he refused to visit troops in Afghanistan because he wanted to avoid jetlag.
Executive director Neil James said Mr Abbott's comments aimed to distract the Taliban and other potential terrorist organisations from an upcoming trip to the Middle East. He said Mr Abbott was expected to visit Australian troops in the coming weeks.
"The Opposition leader has already organised a visit to Afghanistan," he told The Manly Daily."His comments were in fact a cover story to draw attention away from his visit." "
Full article: http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/abbott-jetlag-security-decoy/
If the ADA was quoted incorrectly, I am sure we would have heard about it by now.
