Tony Abbott in Washington

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has arrived in Washington after ending his two days in New York at a Brooklyn school.

The school is part of a public-private partnership program between the city of New York and corporate giant IBM which Mr Abbott says forms a model for Australia.

 

And in Washington, he has become caught up in the turmoil in the Republican Party, as he seeks meetings on Capital Hill.

 

SBS Chief Political Corrospondant Karen Middleton is in the US.

 

She spoke with Peggy Giakoumelos.