An explosive text message sent by the treasurer of the federal Liberal Party referred to Tony Abbott 's chief of staff as a 'horsewoman of the Apocalypse ' as he urged for her to be dumped . The string of text messages from party treasurer Philip Higginson were sent to a senior Liberal figure last year about staffer Peta Credlin and leaked to the ABC 's Four Corners . Mr Higginson , who urged his Liberal colleague to 'negotiate the removal ' of the PM 's chief of staff , sent the messages during a dispute over annual accounts with Ms Credlin 's husband and Liberal Party federal director , Brian Loughnane . Scroll down for video . The string of text messages from party treasurer Philip Higginson were sent to a senior Liberal figure last year about staffer Peta Credlin and leaked to the ABC 's Four Corners . ' I 'm refusing to sign the 2013/14 accounts ... it has brought ... the Horsewoman of the Apocalypse out of her den as you can image ( sic ) . Black robes flowing . Stay tuned for the hatchet job on me ... it 's hurting me just mainly watching the party suicide , ' Mr Higginson wrote . ' I do hope you can negotiate the removal of Credlin . That would be a huge win in itself . ' Liberal sources believe the dispute was involved in the Prime Minister 's leadership crisis this year . Mr Higginson signed the party accounts in February , but wrote emails to the Liberal Party executive in which he described Ms Credlin and Mr Loughnane 's relationship as a 'conflict of interest ' . Mr Higginson was considered a good friend of Prime Minister Tony Abbott when he sent the text messages late last year urging for the chief of staff to be dumped . Mr Higginson urged his Liberal colleague to 'negotiate the removal ' of the PM 's chief of staff Peta Credlin and referred to her as the 'Horsewoman of the Apocalypse ' He wrote that 'how this party ever let a husband and wife team into those roles ' was beyond him , and that their relationship was causing dysfunction and 'wooden and unreliable communication ' . Mr Abbott downplayed the emails at the time saying the leak was a 'storm in a teacup ' . He restated his confidence in the power couple . He pointed out that Mr Loughnane has been the federal director for 12 years and Ms Credlin has occupied a series of senior positions for various ministers and party leaders . 'So if this is a problem , it 's been a problem for 10 years . In fact it is no problem , ' Mr Abbott told told Macquarie Radio . But Four Corners has revealed the issue led to Mr Abbott and Mr Higginson having a heated meeting before Christmas . The Prime Minister would n't comment on the meeting , according to the program . Mr Higginson sent the messages during a dispute over annual accounts with Ms Credlin 's husband and Liberal Party federal director , Brian Loughnane ( pictured ) Ms Credlin has been credited by disgruntled coalition backbenchers , 39 of whom voted for a spill in February , as one of the problems with Mr Abbott 's leadership . Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop says the latest internal party leaks are damaging and should stop . 'It 's always unfortunate if there are leaks to the media that are damaging in any political party , ' she said . 'Anything of that nature is obviously most unfortunate and should n't be said . '
Liberal party treasurer Philip Higginson sent explosive text messages to senior Liberal figure about staffer Brian Loughnane . He urged Liberal colleague to negotiate removal of PM 's chief of staff . Messages were sent during spat over accounts with Ms Credlin 's husband and Liberal Party federal director , Peta Credlin .