Prime Minister Tony Abbott has defended his dinner with News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch in New York.
Mr Abbott had dinner with Mr Murdoch on Tuesday night at the media baron's Hyde Park West apartment.
A meeting with Mr Murdoch has been a regular part of the itineraries of prime ministers when they visit New York for well over a decade.
Mr Abbott said he had met with Mr Murdoch on a number of occasions.
"He is a very senior Australian. News group is a very significant international business with strong Australian connections," Mr Abbott told reporters in New York.
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"This is what people in my position do and we should do it because our country is helped by the success of organisations like News abroad."
