A BEHIND-the-scenes row has erupted between Tony Abbott and John Howard over the Health Minister's day from hell on Wednesday.
Senior Liberal sources say Mr Abbott lays the blame for the fiasco in which he was 35 minutes late to a televised debate with his Labor counterpart Nicola Roxon at the Prime Minister's door.
They claim that Mr Abbott had pleaded with Mr Howard and his staff not to delay him at the Melbourne announcement of a health package.
Mr Abbott privately claims he was told the Prime Minister's event took precedence and he would have "make his own arrangements" to get to Canberra for the 12.30pm debate.
As it turned out, Mr Abbott was delayed in Melbourne and arrived in Canberra more than a half an hour late for the National Press Club debate.
He then compounded the problem by swearing at Opposition health spokeswoman Nicola Roxon when she told him he could have arrived on time if he had tried harder.
But key Liberal sources said Mr Abbott was not angry with Ms Roxon; she was simply "the nearest person to whack". According to these Liberal sources, Mr Abbott was actually angry with Mr Howard.
"He was (xxxfilteredxxx - but the meaning had somehting to do with "stools" ) with another little short guy," said one Liberal. "Howard told him that his event was more important what was Tony to do?"
Mr Howard yesterday defended his health minister, arguing that while "Tony had a bad day", he had apologised and everyone should move on.
"He was man enough to take his lumps on television, which is a lot different from other people I've seen who've done equally stupid things in public life," Mr Howard said.
But another senior Liberal said: "It's just more of the same from him (the Prime Minister) it's John Winston Howard first, second and third and hang the rest."
High-profile Liberal, former ACT chief minister Kate Carnell, described Mr Abbott's late entry to the National Press Club as "totally stupid", but said Mr Howard should take responsibility. just read this bit again:
But another senior Liberal said: "It's just more of the same from him (the Prime Minister) it's John Winston Howard first, second and third and hang the rest."
