Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was forced to repay $9400 in travel expenses accrued while he promoted his book Battlelines in 2009, it has been revealed.
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Freedom of information documents show that Mr Abbott repaid the expenses in 2010, despite initially describing the allegations through a spokesman as ''a blatant attempt by Labor to smear and mislead''.
Mr Abbott took the trips in July and August 2009 - before he became Opposition Leader in November 2009 - to promote his book.
The case was revealed at the weekend by former Fairfax Media journalist Margo Kingston, who published the documents on her website, No Fibs.
The revelations led to former trade minister Craig Emerson suggesting Mr Abbott should stand down as Opposition Leader, following the lead of former speaker Peter Slipper.
When Mr Abbott repaid the money in full, then special minister of state Gary Gray said he did not intend to take any further action on the matter.
Mr Abbott's office said: ''As the government has made clear, this matter was resolved more than two years ago.''
According to the documents released, Mr Abbott's chief of staff, Peta Credlin, wrote in October 2010 that the flights ''were inadvertently booked as official travel, rather than private''. ''I enclose a full repayment of all outstanding costs … amount $6255.49.''
In January 2011, Mr Gray wrote to Mr Abbott's office noting that a further $3141.93 had been paid by Mr Abbott's office for other outstanding entitlements not covered by the first payment.
