Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is everything a woman could want in a husband "and more" according to his wife, Margie, who has leapt to her spouse's defence over claims he is sexist and has trouble dealing with women in positions of authority.
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Mrs Abbott joined her husband of 24 years in a morning television appearance, saying she understood politics was a rough-and-tumble business and that to achieve success, a tough exterior was required.
"So seeing the real person is often very difficult and sitting in front of a camera is perhaps not the best opportunity to show that softer side," she said.
Ms Abbott said Mr Abbott was everything she could want in a husband and their daughters were "in love with their father".
"Tony Abbott gets women and ... the women in Tony Abbott's life certainly get him," she said. "So perhaps less of the camera and more of the women."
Mrs Abbott is due to make a speech in Sydney later today where she will spruik her husband's connection with women.
She will be joined by their 21-year-old daughter, Frances, and two of Mr Abbott's sisters.
Mrs Abbott's defence of her husband comes as Labor figures step up their attack on Mr Abbott by claiming he has a problem with women in positions of power.
Attorney-General Nicola Roxon, Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and backbencher Julie Owens have been especially vocal, leading the Coalition to coin the phrase "handbag hit squad."
The Opposition Leader's wife said while her husband was the politician in the family, "I know the man in another context".
"I just want to add a bit of balance to this and to present the fact that he is a pretty ordinary bloke, no airs and graces, who enjoys time with his family and is surrounded by strong, capable women," she said.
When asked if his wife's public defence of him was a "diversionary tactic", Mr Abbott said his wife had expressed a desire to step out of the background for some time.
"Margie and I were sitting around the breakfast table a couple of Sundays ago and she said, 'Look, this is just wrong and it's unfair, I want to say something'," she said.
Mrs Abbott was a private person and they had always fought to keep their family life sheltered from the public spotlight.
"Just for once she thought it was important to speak out," Mr Abbott said.
During his weekly televised interview on the Nine Network, Mr Abbott was again asked about his relationship with broadcaster Alan Jones, who came under heavy fire this week for making comments during a Liberal Party fundraiser that Prime Minister Julia Gillard's late father had "died of shame".
Mr Jones also recently ranted that women, including Ms Gillard and Lord Mayor Clover Moore, were "destroying the joint".
Mr Abbott said Mr Jones spoke for himself.
"Yes I get on well with Alan, he's a friend of mine ... I've know him for 30 years now, but he's his own man."
Mr Abbott said Mr Jones had said the wrong thing and been "universally condemned", but people wanted to move on from that now.
Mrs Abbott said family should be off limits from political barbs and point-scoring.
"I feel for the Prime Minister in the sense that she has lost her dad and he was obviously a very important person in her life as is Tony in the life of my daughters," Mrs Abbott said.
With AAP
