Our 'daggy Dad' would make a good PM

Frances Abbott and Bridget Abbott, two of the Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott's three daughters at Manly Beach. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: News Limited

THEY are hurt their father has been labelled a misogynist, they hope or pray for gay marriage and have explained the emotional reason why he said their virginity was a "gift."

For years feminists, politicians and critics of their father have spoken for them, now two of Tony Abbott's daughters are speaking for themselves.

Frances, 21 and Bridget Abbott, 20 can laugh about their "daggy Dad" his "embarrassing" use of nicknames for them and his "outfit repeating" with blue ties.

But for these thoughtful young women, there is one thing which has upset them in recent months - Prime Minister Julia Gillard's scathing misogyny speech in parliament.

VIDEO: PM Julia Gillard's misogyny speech

"The definition of it is someone who hates women, we're his daughters and we're women. To me that's implying Dad hates us because we're women," Bridget said.

Frances jumped in: "And wouldn't think that we are have the same opportunities, the same smarts" before Bridget finished her sentence,

"Not of the same level as men, which is totally untrue."

"Dad is always the one pushing us to be better," Frances said.

Bridget, a radiology student who has recently returned from volunteer work at a Cambodian orphanage and Frances, who is studying design, say they reflect their parents but their views are divergent to their conservative, Catholic father.

And they say Mr Abbott is fine with that.

They stopped going to church when they were old enough to choose for themselves and consider themselves non practising Catholics.

"It was never shoved down our throats," Frances said before adding the church was always an "option.'

"A lot of people when they think of Dad becoming prime minister, they think his policies are all going to be reflective of his faith but we're his children and we have grown up with it so I guess we reflect it but he has never forced it upon us, never said you have to do this because of what I believe in so I don't think Australia should think that is how it is either," Bridget said.

Neither would judge a woman who chose to have an abortion. Both believe strongly in gay marriage, a view cemented by seeing their aunt, Mr Abbott's youngest sister, Christine Forster fall in love with her partner Virginia Edwards.

Christine Forster, the sister of politician Tony Abbott and her partner Virginia Edwards arrive at a Ellen DeGeneres Welcome Party on March 26, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Frances said being in the design community "where there is quite a large gay population" had illustrated "at the end of the day it is love...love is equal."

"Dad and I have had a few discussions about it," Frances said.

"I believe it is inevitable, I believe by the time our generation gets into power I hope and pray something is done about marriage equality and gay rights."

Bridget added: "I just think being gay is a lot more accepted and open for our generation. Chris and Virginia are a completely normal couple. They're exactly the same as Mum and Dad except they happen to both be women."

Frances Abbott and Bridget Abbott, two of the Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott's three daughters. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: News Limited

Three years ago Mr Abbott said his three daughters - eldest Louise is living and working in Switzerland - should consider their virginity a "gift".

That advice set off a storm of criticism and both Bridget and Frances said the comment was "misconstrued," that it was about respect for them but also touched on their father's belief for 25 years that he had a son with his high school girlfriend Kathy Donnelly.

Mr Abbott's daughters, who were told when they were 10 they had a half brother, have revealed he remains in contact with Daniel O'Connor, who had been adopted and after an emotional reunion with Mr Abbott discovered he was the son of another man.

Tony Abbott during an undated interview in Canberra from 2007, where at the time, Daniel O'Connor (background) is pictured. Source: Supplied

Frances said her father also remained close to Daniel's mother - who Mr Abbott described earlier this month as the most "courageous" person he had known at an event marking the government's apology over forced adoptions - until she died recently.

"What it comes down to is it is not a religious view," Frances said.

She said the adoption and separation from the baby he he believed was his son when Mr Abbott was only 19 "would have caused him a lot of pain and I guess when it comes down to it... he probably wouldn't want us put through the same position because he went through it and saw and felt how hard it was".

The Abbott Family Christmas Card. Pictured left to right: Margie, Tony, Frances, Louise and Bridget. Source: Supplied

Of the continued contact, Frances said: "It definitely says something about Dad's character.

"At the end of the day you have to think about Daniel, he was obviously brought up not knowing who his (biological) parents were either, he would have been in just as much confusion and heartbreak as Dad was," she said.

The Abbott girls said their father always gives them the best advice to put them on the right "path" with Frances' favourite involving Mr Abbott as a young boy, aged about nine, hiding in the garden of his school worried he had no friends.

"He's got a story which he will say to us about when he first started at Riverview he was hiding in the garden after school because he felt like he didn't have any friends and his Dad came out and said to him `to have friends you need to be a friend," Frances said.

They also said they benefited from his advice while on a family holiday in Bali at the time of the second bombing in 2005 when, as health minister, Mr Abbott had to leave them to go to the local hospital to help arrange transfers for seriously wounded Australians.

Frances Abbott and Bridget Abbott, two of the Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott's three daughters. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: News Limited

Worried they could become the target of terrorists, Mr Abbott told them they had to stay for the sake of the Balinese people and he had to leave his family's side so victims had "someone from home there who is supporting them when they are in a foreign hospital."

As they were growing up Mr Abbott was a keen supporter of whatever his daughters chose to do, and he was the architect and builder of their two storey cubby house complete with a fireman's pole.

Memories of him screaming out "go Bridgey Babe" from the sidelines of the netball court, prompted a laughing Bridget to say she nearly gave the game away.Relentlessly competitive, Mr Abbott would even urge his daughters to race him in their home pool.

"He's a terrible swimmer so we always won," Bridget said.

Tony Abbott pictured with wife Margaret and the family dog "Maisie", at their Forestville home in Sydney. Picture: Mitch Cameron. Source: News Limited

Frances and Bridget have noted their father's neater hair and new penchant for blue ties.

"I was talking to him about it last night and I was like 'What's with the outfit repeating?' There are so many blue ties," Frances said.

Bridget approves of the new look and believes it could prepare Mr Abbott should he ever reach The Lodge.

"His hair is looking better when it is a bit tidy, not super scruffy, I don't think he pays attention but everyone else notices," she said.

"I think presentation is really important so he needs to look like an alternative prime minister so he needs to start focussing on that stuff as well as everything else."

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott speaks during a motion to suspend stating orders during House of Representatives question time on March 21, 2013 in Canberra, wearing one of his many blue ties. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

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