Australia: Margie Abbott defends opposition leader

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'How does God turn a man into a feminist? Answer: He gives him three daughters.

That gag summed up Margie Abbott's foray into the world of political spin.

The opposition leader's wife made a proud and defiant speech in Sydney on Friday, supporting her husband in the face of opinion polls showing he remains unpopular with women, and a Labor offensive to entrench that view.

The previously publicity-shy Mrs Abbott came out with guns blazing, telling a business lunch in Penrith: "Don't ever try and tell me that my husband of 24 years and the father of three daughters is on some anti-women crusade. It's simply not true.

"Next time you meet someone who says that Tony doesn't get women, ask them when was the last time they cycled 1000 kilometres raising $148,000 for their local women's shelter. Which is what Tony did this year for Manly.

"And in 2006 he ran non-stop up and down the stairs of Centrepoint Tower with Pat Farmer to raise much needed funds to help lift the profile of ovarian cancer."

Mrs Abbott said the couple's three daughters were educated, confident, grounded and happy, "living the life that feminists aspire for every young woman".'