On their first date , Tony Abbott would n't stop talking about the split between the ALP ( Australian Labor Party ) and the DLP ( Democratic Labor Party ) in the mid-1950s . Later on in their courtship , he would take her trekking down the Kokoda Trail - with a mate in tow - and would lavish her with bouquets of roses . Margie Abbott , Australia 's so-called 'First Lady ' , has opened about how she was wooed by the future PM in an interview published in the latest issue of The Australian Women 's Weekly . Margie Abbott ( pictured at November 's G20 summit , holding a koala bear ) has begun taking up a more prominent role alongside her husband . Mrs Abbott ( with husband Tony ) told Women 's Weekly how Mr Abbott wooed her in the late 1980s - with champagne , roses , and discussions about politics . Margie Abbott conducted an exclusive interview with the latest edition of The Australian Women 's Weekly . The pair first met on a blind date at a Sydney tavern around 1987 - and six months later he would propose to her in an inner-Sydney restaurant , the pair celebrating with French champagne . ' I think we 'd both pretty quickly made the decision that we 'd met somebody we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with , ' Mrs Abbott told the Weekly . The interview was a rare public moment of candour for Mrs Abbott , who has mostly managed to keep out of the limelight throughout her husband 's federal political career of more than two decades . However , she has become noticeably more prominent in Mr Abbott 's public appearances since he faced the humiliating prospect of a leadership spill motion in mid-February . In the Weekly interview , the Kiwi-born Mrs Abbott also faced questions about current political issues . She declined to answer questions about her thoughts on the Prime Minister dumping his much-touted paid parental leave scheme . Mrs Abbott , who works with a number of charities , has fulfilled her role as 'First Lady ' at official functions . Here she is on Wednesday with her husband , greeting Vietnam 's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Madame Tran Thanh Kiem . Perks of office : Mrs Abbott is pictured here with the family dog Maisie during a visit to the veterinary clinic earlier this year . Peta Credlin ( pictured ) , Tony Abbott 's chief of staff , has been the target of several Liberal party members because of her controversial management style . Mr Abbott has promised a 'better deal ' for parents with child care in his next Budget ( which he said this week would be 'much more boring ' than last year 's ) . Asked about Peta Credlin - the leader 's chief of staff who was a central issue among several Liberal MPs in the recent Liberal Party turmoil - Mrs Abbott told the Weekly she juggled a difficult job . Ms Credlin has come under sustained public attack since late last year . The ABC 's Four Corners program this week published a text message sent by Liberal Party treasurer Phil Higginson which described her as 'the horsewoman of the apocalypse ' and sought her removal . 'At the end of the day , Peta works incredibly hard and it 's a tough job , ' Mrs Abbott said . This month 's edition of The Australian Women 's Weekly is on sale now .
Margie Abbott has opened up about her husband 's courtship of him in an interview with Democratic Labor Party . She said : ' I think we 'd both pretty quickly made the decision that we 'd met somebody we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with ' The First Couple met during a blind date at a Sydney tavern in the late 1980s .