Former prime minister Tony Abbott has defended his decision to stand by George Pell after the Cardinal's conviction for child sex offences, but says he does not recall whether he was asked to provide a character reference.
Hadley - who last week excoriated former prime minister John Howard, who gave a glowing character reference for Pell after his conviction, for showing "a complete lack of understanding" of the victims of paedophiles - demanded to know whether Mr Abbott had also provided a reference."Look, Ray, I honestly don't know if I was asked to provide a reference or not," Mr Abbott said.
Hadley said that he found himself "at odds" with Mr Howard's decision to give a reference in which no mention was made of the victims of Pell's crimes, saying it was highly unusual for a convicted paedophile to receive such unwavering support. Mr Abbott declined to comment on Mr Howard's decision, saying he could not speak for the man who had been "my colleague and mentor for many years".
The shock jock, who has long used his radio program to draw attention to the crimes of paedophiles, last week implied Mr Abbott's actions could cost him his seat in Federal Parliament at the election.
To be fair, who hasnt forgotten the first time a Cardinal asked them for a character reference?
That means Abbott ignored Pell request for a reference. He had the sense to realise it would electoral poison. Which means Howard will be even more of a liability for the Libs campaign.
When an answer will embarrass you go for the Sgt Schultz response
Mirro, Mirror on the wall, who IS the ugliest of them all ? ...........
More selective amnesia
It's called the Sinodinos effect.
Abbott's way of excusing the fact that Pell didn't want his character reference for obvious reasons..mainly that Abbott is more dislike then Pell himself.
Of course not his little boy sexual memories are gone OR have they
Vikkik88 That doesn't pass the sniff test
He couldn’t understand what “character” meant.
Abbott has always had a convenient memory.
If Abbott can’t recall such a request then he needs to retire from politics.
What rubbish
Survivor Amnesia?
Lucky he’s not on ParentsNext Probably lose a payment with that answer
Funny how TonyAbbottMHR can remember everything Labor has done wrong across all time (and make up a fair bit more) BUT, can't remember important moments like if his best buddy Pell asked for a character reference. selectiveMemory LNPfail auspol
LyingDrunk
Another bullshitter
I wish I could have watched 4corners with him tonight
Can’t remember ? Even he doesn’t want to know you. Strange he taught you every thing he knows.
That image will give me nightmares! Channel9 pfft
Ask Peta, she'll know.
Why ask a serial liar about anything EOS
I ‘don’t recall’ Tony doing anything positive. And that I’m positive about.
When lying becomes a default position, how much have you got to hide?
On a side note , I'm really surprised he didn't blame AustralianLabor
Sounds like he practicing his future testimony at the RC.
He probably offered one.
Abbott doesn’t recap if he was born or landed from another planet
I have written references for many students over the years. I remember all of them.
Sure he doesn’t.
I cant recall...such an easy way out
Asking Tony for a character reference is like asking multicultural advice from Pauline Hansen
Really Hadley and jones must be held to account come your not journalist commentators deemadigan bruce_haigh pauldutton1968 Loud_Lass KKeneally
Hope the compelling evidence that only the court heard was from then 13 yr old victim being able to describe an intimate physical characteristic of Pell. Thats a 12 nil verdict every day of the week and that’s what he got including confirmation from the judge that he did it.
TonyAbbottMHR Tony didn’t recall meeting with Pell in 2003 - until Tony Jones reminded him. “Oh yeah. So what?” Then why pretend you didn’t meet with him?
Administer 2 onions and ask him again.
That's a bare-faced lie. You're talking to the electorate, not the Liberal Party room where the liars are thicker on the ground than betting slips at Flemington on Cup Day.
He’s a liar 😡
I call bs
Interesting, yet, what was the comment? spend some time with Pell it'll change your life? I see a backflip coming.. Maybe a few 🤔
Abbott has that much shit in his shoes...you can smell him 100m away
I’ll take ‘That’s a yes’ for $400 Alex.
In the same way that he couldn't recall if he had a meeting with Pell?
peasley_mark Dont recall is code for I cant answer on the grounds that it would incriminate me
Shame all of Australia knows TonyAbbottMHR is perhaps the biggest LIAR in all of auspol. As crooked as a bent stick. warringahvotes
Tony may need a quick trip to the confessional box with that answer. Who is he kidding?
Bullshit
Bullshit Tony
TonyAbbottMHR should maybe say nothing rather than reaffirm his friendship and admiration for a convicted paedophile. The victims must feel sick at the sight of those with influence rallying around the perpetrator. auspol pelldefenders
peasley_mark By this point I personally care little for (Climate change is crap) Tony's opinions.
When Ray Hadley is the voice of reason...
Amnesia the ailment of politicians, criminals and Catholic priests.
Strange that. Kept on happening to Alan Bond, if I recall.
The dissembling from this man. Unless he's suffering from dementia, there is no way he doesn't know the answer to that question.
Oh really?
Tony Abbott is like most religious people. Very proficient at lying
Its surprising he has enough insight to see defending a convicted child molester as a bad thing. Progress I guess from the LNP...
BridgetOFlynn Funny when the Libs are in a tight spot they suddenly can't recall....might be time to have medical check up....before the memory goes completely...because they'll need it for the Federal ICAC...
Uggg!!!,
I can recall every single cardinal who has asked me for a reference
JoelDTD TonyAbbottMHR
How convenient.
Surely Tony would have filed a copy in his St Peter File! 🤪
peasley_mark Doesn't matter. Like Howard, they are of the same ilk.
He wouldn’t of asked for one ... if anyone Richter ... Abbott would of just given one . No request for one ... I believe this to be more damaging to Pell ... oh the Irony
TonyAbbottMHR only remembers grudges that's why hypocrite VoteThemOut Elections2019
amandavanstone addresses this brilliantly in todays
Billandbecks TotalRecall WarringahVotes NSWPol Abbott Nestor AbbottProof
Selective Amnesia? More like political expediency. For pity sake, VoteAbbottOut WarringaVotes auspol
Not exactly Total Recall......
A character reference from Abbott ? You’d be better off getting one from your cat.
MSMWatchdog2013 Abbot doesn’t recall if he was a prime minister or a credlin puppet
The white board
Doesn’t recall always means doesn’t want people to know the real answer.
WTF the former PM cant recall this, let's hope he is not re elected.
Perhaps TonyAbbottMHR has dementia & unfit to hold parliamentary office auspol
peasley_mark It's like the LNPfail no longer care how ridiculous and implausible their lies are. They should rot in opposition for ten+ years. auspol
Thats a yes he did then!
'You've got to feel for the people who are dismayed at this verdict against someone they put up on a pedestal'. TonyAbbottMHR regardless of the height of your pedestal & those you place on it, all are equal in the eyes of the law, a guilty verdict is a guilty verdict.
This is just a flat out lie
Is he physically and mentally fit to be in the tax payer's employ?
yes he does
HumanBeingFirst So what abbott you just leaped to his defence despite overwhelming irrefutable evidence proving pells guilt No you are all brainwashed narcissist who think the laws don’t apply to them
Bullshit
Of course he doesn’t 🤣
Selective memory kicking in now
judbell43 Worse still he doesn’t recall if he wrote one! 'I have no recall of providing a reference but …” Lying man.
Yes Tony it’s hard to hear when you’re getting blown...
no words saying he felt betrayed no words saying that pells action were disgusting no words TonyAbbottMHR you are a MP - you should denounce pell now. Politicians don't have the luxury of supporting a convicted criminal - that is one of many reasons why your pay is so high
Was Tony Abbott the conduit for the money Pell used for his defence?
Geez he has a poor memory for a serving politician. I though wannabe PMs had to have a mind like a steel trap, not a leaky cauldron.
TonyAbbottMHR conveniently can't recall. Sure. Time to retire if the memory has gone to this extent. The victims of Pell's abuse were not betrayed only by an institution Mr Abbott. They were betrayed by your good friend, a convicted paedophile.
rhythmnation if a pedophile asked me for a character reference in the last few months i reckon i’d probably remember it
If his memory is that bad he should seek medical help, not put his hand up to represent the people of Warringah. Defeatabbott warringahvoices
MichaelTiyce have you read this?
Heard the i/v. His response to that question was so believable. 🤣🤣🤣
The poor man! He doesn't recall! He doesn't recall a lot of things
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: smh - 🏆 6. / 80 Read more »
Source: theage - 🏆 8. / 77 Read more »
Tony Abbott haunted by praise for George PellAs Australia absorbs the horrendous news that its most prominent church leader, Cardinal George Pell, is a child sex abuser, former prime minister Tony Abbott must come to terms with the years he spent praising the man. TonyAbbottMHR Now both ScottMorrisonMP and TonyAbbottMHR consider a convicted paedophile as a great moral compass. TonyAbbottMHR If you want to crucify TonyAbbott for being loyal ...go for it, BUT if you are happy doing that then try to think that if you were charged with a crime, irrespective of being innocent/guilty, how many ppl do you know would still stand by your side & show his loyalty as he did Hani_Iskander TonyAbbottMHR Like Abbott would GAF about what he said. Since when did he ever show the ability to reflect and improve?
Source: newscomauHQ - 🏆 9. / 77 Read more »
Source: SBSNews - 🏆 3. / 89 Read more »
Source: smh - 🏆 6. / 80 Read more »
Source: newscomauHQ - 🏆 9. / 77 Read more »
Source: SkyNewsAust - 🏆 7. / 78 Read more »
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »
Source: SBSNews - 🏆 3. / 89 Read more »
Is that really you, Tony?It was hilarious probably because it seemed real. Any news story about Tony Abbott should end with 'Now we know this all sounds a bit much, but he *is* the guy who ate a raw onion so who knows'
Source: newscomauHQ - 🏆 9. / 77 Read more »