Leaks: Credlin a ‘serious dilemma’

Former Liberal Party leader John Hewson says Peta Credlin's profile is too big for a Prime Minister's chief-of-staff. Courtesy: Sky News

Peta Credlin, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Source: News Corp Australia

IN WHAT is set to be another major set back for Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a series of irate emails by a senior executive within the Liberal Party has been leaked, condemning the relationship between Tony Credlin and her husband, federal director Brian Loughane.

Two emails sent to 27 members of the Liberal Party executive on Sunday night, including the Prime Minister, revealed a rift so tumultuous the party's federal treasurer Philip Higginson has threatened to resign.

Excerpts from the emails, written by Mr Higginson, reveal he intends to resign over issues of transparency, stating he felt "overwhelmed by the sheer vitriol" plaguing the Liberal Party and demanded immediate action.

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"I find the situation, if it weren't so serious, almost amusing,'' wrote the Liberal Party's federal treasurer Philip Higginson. Picture: Lukas Coch Source: AAP

Liberal Party Director Brian Loughnane. Source: News Corp Australia

The Liberal Party's Philip Higginson. Source: News Limited

He felt uneasy at his "good friend" Tony Abbott being "brought down this way," no doubt in reference to questions over Mr Abbott's leadership and the recent spill, which saw the party vote in favour of the Prime Minister 61-39.

"I am overwhelmed daily by the sheer vitriol and pent-up animosities and enmities that exist," he wrote.

The "persons in our party's history" responsible for the Government's recent misgivings should "hang their collective heads in shame".

But "the most serious current dilemma" facing the Liberal Party, according to Mr Higginson, was the conflict of interest between Mr Loughnane and Ms Credlin, Tony Abbott's Chief of Staff.

"Conflict of interest is a serious problem between the Federal Secretariat ... and the PMO ... and I find the situation, if it weren't so serious, almost amusing," Mr Higginson wrote.

"How this party ever let a husband-and-wife team into those two key roles where collegiate competitive tension is mandatory and private consultations between colleagues to see each side is served well, is a complete mystery."

"A managing director would never allow his executive assistant to be the wife of the chairman".

Watchful eye: Peta Credlin, Tony Abbott's Chief of Staff looks on during a press conference during the Prime Minister's official State visit to Tokyo, Japan. Source: News Corp Australia

Brian Loughnane with Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Source: Supplied

The conflict of interest was the Liberal Party's "the most serious current dilemma". Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

He wrote the conflict was impacting the PM on a "very, very wide front" and the party needed to tackle the "serious problem".

He described the blurred line between the party's political and organisational sectors factored into the government's "wooden and unreliable" internal communications and therefore created "a reluctance towards open and trusting lines of communication".

The furious email once again highlights the growing tension surrounding Ms Credlin, known as the most powerful woman in Canberra.

"She's aggressive, she runs vendettas against certain media people, she bans people and her briefings can be at odds with what the official line is," a source told The Australian's John Lyons.

Tony Abbott's chief-of-staff is often touted as the most powerful woman in the country. But how did she get there?

According to an unnamed source, Lyons writes, "Credlin frequently dismisses people as 'completely hopeless', even in front of Abbott".

But there is good news for the party, with the latest Newspoll revealing a rise in the polls for the Prime Minister.

The Coalition's primary vote rose three points to 38 per cent, while Labor's fell three points at an equal 38 per cent.

While the Labor Party continues to lead the way on a two-party preferred basis, Bill Shorten's approval rating has hit an all-time low of 35 per cent, down from 42 per cent.

The Herald Sun writes Mr Higginson "sent the email before heading overseas and could not be contacted".

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