Tony Abbott’s sister Christine Forster defends him against ‘misogynist’ and ‘homophobe’ claims

Tony Abbott’s sister has come to his defence after he was labelled a misogynistic, homophobic climate-denier.

The former prime minister has come under heavy scrutiny after it emerged he was being lined up for a senior trade role in the United Kingdom.

He has also been criticised for suggesting older people should be left to die from coronavirus, to spare younger generations from the economic burden.

His sister Christine Forster acknowledged Mr Abbott was an unabashed conservative, but said he possessed great compassion and respect for others.

"It is nothing short of dishonesty for commentators and politicians who do not know Tony to label him a 'homophobe and a misogynist' for the purposes of scoring cheap political points," she said in a statement.

"As a woman who has always been part of his life and who came out to him as gay in my early 40s, I know incontrovertibly that Tony is neither of those things."

Senior coalition minister Mathias Cormann, who served under Mr Abbott, said he had a distinguished record.

"From where I sit, Tony Abbott is clearly a giant on Australian politics who has made a great contribution over a long time," Senator Cormann told Sky News on Friday.

"Not everyone will agree with him, but people are entitled to their views, and that's the way things work in a democracy."

Mr Abbott has previously said he felt threatened by homosexuality, opposed same-sex marriage, and was accused of misogyny by fellow former prime minister Julia Gillard.