Tony Abbott: I understand women, threatened by gays

Tony Abbott, so far keen to project a macho image, has upset gay groups with his comments / The Daily Telegraph

TONY Abbott has apologised to Coalition MPs for failing to consult them over his paid maternity leave plan.

Describing it as a "leader's call", Mr Abbott told MPs that "sometimes it was better to ask forgiveness than permission".

Coalition MPs told The Australian Online that frustration was expressed at today's meeting of Liberal MPs and senators that the Liberal leader failed to consult the party room before rolling out his policy idea of putting a 1.7 per cent levy on big business to pay for a six month paid maternity leave.

But they expressed a willingness to deliver women a better deal on paid maternity leave to support families and breastfeeding mothers.

Abbott 'understands' women, but not gaysOpposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey sprang to the defence of the scheme in the partyroom, arguing it was temporary measure that an Abbott government would attempt to change when the budget was back in surplus.

Mr Abbott's media campaign continued last night with an appearance on ABC Television to sell the Coalition's new plan on paid parental leave.

The Opposition announced yesterday it would give new parents six months paid leave at full salary if elected to government, using a 1.7 per cent levy on big business to pay for it.

Currently, 18 weeks at the minimum wage is offered to new parents. Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner has said Mr Abbott's plan does not add up and the Government will be sticking with its own setup.

Big business is opposed to the plan, saying it is unfair to single them out and will cost jobs.

Mr Abbott himself was opposed to such a plan when in government, but now says he has changed his mind as his own daughters have grown up.

"Isn't a good thing to change your mind as your understanding grows?'' he said last night. "What's brought it about is deeper understanding of the practical difficulties of women who are trying to juggle families and careers."

He has said he is "more conscious of the burdens of friends and family members are carrying, and I'm thinking more deeply about the sorts of choices that I would like to be available for my own daughters".

The policy will make paid parental a battleground in the federal election expected later this year and makes a cash grab for "working families" more likely.

Gay 'threat'

But while Mr Abbott's position on that topic has evolved over time, on social issues he is sticking to his first principles.

Asked to clarify his views on homosexuality he said: "There is no doubt that challenges, if you like, orthodox notions of the right order of things," he said last night.

He was expanding on comments he made on 60 Minutes on Sunday night, in which he said: "I probably feel a bit threatened (by homosexuality), as so many people do."

He went on to say he tried to "treat people as people and not put them in pigeonholes", but gay rights groups have said it shows Mr Abbott is living in the 1950s.

Gay rights campaigner Anthony Bendall said Mr Abbott should have kept his feelings to himself for the good of young people struggling with their sexuality. "It certainly isn't a very helpful comment in terms of trying to eliminate discrimination and homophobia," he said.

Mr Abbott has been regularly grabbing headlines since he became Opposition Leader last December - and if it is a deliberate strategy of showing the public who he is, it is apparently working.

Polls show Mr Abbott and the Coalition clawing back support and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been forced to change his own strategy to combat the new dynamic.