Via tweets, phone calls, media articles, and dinners, billionaire Rupert Murdoch incessantly influences Australian government-Australian Financial Review

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1/29/15, "Prime Minister Tony Abbott takes Rupert Murdoch’s advice," Australian Financial Review, Phillip Coorey

"Tony Abbott dumped his senior communications adviser and ­overhauled his media team over Christmas after being lobbied directly over dinner by media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

But the Prime Minister is refusing to cede to the latest demand from the NewsCorp chairman: to sack chief of staff Peta Credlin.

With the government reeling over Mr Abbott’s incen­diary decision to award Prince Philip a Knighthood of the Order of Australia, Ms ­Credlin is once more in the firing line. This is despite Ms Credlin being a republican and Mr Abbott exonerating her of any role in the ­decision, which has left MPs and ­ministers querying his judgement, and fuelled fears he is out of touch with most Australians.
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Mr Abbott and Mr Murdoch dined together in Sydney in December after what had been a messy end of the year for the government.

During the dinner, the pair broke away for a private conversation, during which Mr Murdoch complained to Mr Abbott that the government’s ­communications strategy was poor and failing to sell the right messages, and that he had “the wrong people” in the job.

Similar criticisms were being made by columnists and editorials in the Murdoch press.

Just before Christmas, Mr Abbott’s press office director, Jane McMillan, was let go and replaced by deputy chief of staff and former media adviser Andrew Hirst. ABC Canberra correspondent Mark Simkin was recruited as chief press secretary.

Mr Murdoch, who on Tuesday slammed the knighthood decision as a joke and an embarrassment, took to Twitter again on Wednesday to demand Ms Credlin’s head. “Tough to write, but if he won’t replace top aide Peta Credlin she must do her patriotic duty and resign,” he said. “Forget fairness.

This change only way to recover team work and achieve so much possible for Australia.”

“Leading involves cruel choices,” he added in a second tweet.

It is also understood Mr Murdoch has been complaining to Mr Abbott in phone calls.

Mr Abbott was having none of it. He said Ms Credlin was not consulted on the decision, which was made last year and took several months to organise.

“I consulted with the chairman of the Council of the Order of Australia [Angus Houston] and I consulted with the Governor-General [Peter Cosgrove],” he said.

Mr Abbott is intensely loyal to Ms Credlin, who shepherded him through the years in opposition.

On Wednesday, as News Corp columnist Miranda Devine also demanded Ms Credlin’s ouster, her retention was backed by two cabinet ministers, Peter Dutton and Christopher Pyne, who also profusely praised Mr Murdoch.

“Peta Credlin and Tony Abbott have played a remarkable role in getting the Coalition into government after just two terms. We couldn’t have done it without Peta Credlin,” said Mr Pyne.
“I think that Peta Credlin is absolutely intrinsic to our success.”

Mr Abbott defended the knighthood but promised to consult more widely before bestowing future awards.

“The decision was made for good reasons and I stand by it,” he said.

He also promised there would be no more such surprises, saying there are lessons to be learned.

“I take it on the chin,” he said.

“I have heard [the criticism] and there will be considerably more ­consultation around these awards in the future.”

Mr Abbott accepted he was alone internally on the matter.

“That’s the truth. This was my call,” he said.

Liberal MP Dan Tehan confirmed Mr Abbott had been telephoning Coalition MPs, who have been publicly and privately critical. “The fact that he has come out today and learned a lesson, that's a positive thing,” he said.

One criticism of the Prince Philip decision was that it detracted from the appointment of domestic violence ­campaigner Rosie Batty as Australian of the Year. 

Mr Abbott called Wednesday’s press conference after meeting Ms Batty in Melbourne.

He said he would mount an urgent push for a uniform legal approach to domestic violence laws and restraining orders across all states and territories.

He agreed with Mrs Batty that her appointment should be matched by action on domestic violence.

Mr Abbott said domestic violence would be placed on the Council of Australian Governments’ agenda as a matter of urgency to ensure domestic violence orders applied across all states and that all other laws were nationally uniform by the end of this year."