McKew feels 'dudded' by PM: Abbott

26 Oct 2012, 3:15 pm   -   Source: AAP
Former Labor MP Maxine McKew's (pic) new book shows the PM is not to be trusted, Tony Abbott says. (AAP)

Former Labor MP Maxine McKew's (pic) new book shows the PM is not to be trusted, Tony Abbott says. (AAP)

Former Labor MP Maxine McKew's new book shows the prime minister is not to be trusted and is only now choosing to play the gender card, Tony Abbott says.

Former Labor MP Maxine McKew's book about her time in parliament shows she feels "dudded" by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the opposition leader says.

Tony Abbott says Ms McKew's history - she was a reputable ABC journalist before going into politics - makes her credible when she criticises the PM in her book, Tales from the Political Trenches, which is to be published on Monday.

McKew writes that Ms Gillard was a "disloyal deputy" to former PM Kevin Rudd, and had been involved in a plot to oust him from the top job days before she claimed power, contradicting comments she made that she decided to ask him for a leadership ballot only "on the day" it happened.

"Maxine McKew was a very respected journalist. She then surrendered that to go into parliament for the Labor Party. I think (she) does have certain credibility," Mr Abbott told the Nine Network on Friday.

"This isn't Tony Abbott saying you can't trust this prime minister; this is a staunch Labor person saying you can't trust this prime minister."

Mr Abbott was invited to comment on what Ms McKew meant in an extract from the book, in which she recalls Ms Gillard joking about "two childless women" being the policy guardians of Australia's children.

"I guess what it does mean is that once upon a time the prime minister wasn't someone to play the gender card, and I guess that's changed more recently," he said.

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