So many stories of Credlin's abuse - but still Abbott kept her

Crelin fixes Abbott's make up, and winks at him in a car

Barrie Cassidy writes about the true nature of Credlin's close relationship with Abbott; that of one that saw Abbott impart on her unprecedented power and control.

She certainly had a huge influence over things. But she wasn't benevolent. Indeed she became well know for her temper tantrums, foul language, and yelling at people. Abbott was told long before he became PM by a number of people that her behaviour was unacceptable, people who put their names to the stories today. 

Why Abbott kept her and constantly sided with her remains to be seen. It certainly wasn't out of good judgement, politically or otherwise. She had him convinced that he couldn't do the PM's job without her, for whatever reason. Where they truly having an affair for Abbott to think thus? Pillow talk and all that?

The sad thing is that Credlin was probably right.....

Here are some examples. 

Fiona Telford: Previously, a Victorian-based press secretary who joined the office of Helen Coonan in 2007. 

She says the belittling, the intimidation by Credlin, began early, with name calling and finger pointing in front of colleagues. 

It built to intolerable levels. 

She was eventually given a dressing down by Credlin who called her "a fucking useless bitch". She went home in tears, and says in the book that she fell into a state of anxiety and depression that lasted for more than three years. 

Suzanne Kasprzak: An executive assistant. She had handled John Howard's diary for five years and built a reputation as a stalwart and an absolute professional. 

For whatever reason Credlin turned on her. 

According to Kasprzak, Credlin "would go into her office, close the door and start yelling at her. It happened time and again, with Credlin shouting at her that she was moody, she was inefficient, people were complaining about her. On it went." 

Eventually Abbott called her into his office, told her he had never been better served by anybody, but because of a restructure, she had to go. 

He gave her a bunch of flowers which she threw in the bin. 

Murray Cranston: A devoted long time staffer. Towards the end of 2012 he told Credlin in front of a full staff meeting that she was the problem; that her mood swings and treatment of junior staff had a dramatic effect on morale. They were tired of being yelled at or sworn at. 

Credlin fled the room in tears, closely followed by Abbott. 

The advance man in the office, Richard Dowdy, told staffers he saw the prime minister-in-waiting sitting outside on the kerb of a busy Sydney street, trying to calm down his inconsolable chief of staff. 

Rather than take Cranston's judgment on board, Abbott counselled him and insisted he buy Credlin a bunch of flowers as an apology. When he presented them, Credlin tossed them aside. ABC    

Yet after all that, Abbott refused to listen to anyone but Credlin. Why?

Niki Savva on the relationship between Tony Abbott and Peta Credlin #insiders #auspol https://t.co/HWrIy0aXIf

— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) March 5, 2016