Margie Abbott defends husband over sexism:

Appearing with her husband on the Nine Network this morning, Margie Abbott says politics is a tough business and success in politics requires a tough exterior.

"So seeing the real person is often very difficult and sitting in front of a camera is perhaps not the best opportunity to show that softer side."

Ms Abbott said Mr Abbott was everything she could want in a husband and their daughters were "in love with their father".

"Tony Abbott gets women and ... the women in Tony Abbott's life certainly get him," she said.

"So perhaps less of the camera and more of the women."

Ms Abbott has also written an article for News Ltd newspapers and will make a speech in Sydney later on Friday spruiking her husband's connection with women.

Ms Abbott's defence of her husband follows accusations by senior Gillard government ministers, including Attorney-General Nicola Roxon, that Mr Abbott does not deal well with women.

The opposition leader's wife said while her husband was the politician in the family, "I know the man in another context".

"I just want to add a bit of balance to this and to present the fact that he is a pretty ordinary bloke, no airs and graces, who enjoys time with his family and is surrounded by strong, capable women."

When asked if his wife's public defence of him was a "diversionary tactic" to deflect recent criticism of him, Mr Abbott said his wife had wanted to say something on the matter for some time.

"Margie and I were sitting around the breakfast table a couple of Sundays ago and she said, `Look, this is just wrong and it's unfair, I want to say something'."

Mr Abbott said his wife was a private person and both of them had tried to keep their family life separate from his public life.

"Just for once she thought it was important to speak out."

Mr Abbott was asked about his relationship with broadcaster Alan Jones who this week was widely condemned for saying Prime Minister Julia Gillard's late father had "died of shame" and earlier said on air that women were "destroying the joint".

Mr Abbott said Mr Jones spoke for himself.

"Yes I get on well with Alan, he's a friend of mine ... I've know him for 30 years now but he's his own man."

Mr Abbott said Mr Jones had said the wrong thing and been "universally condemned" but people wanted to move on from that now.

When asked how she thought Ms Gillard had handled the furore over Mr Jones's comments about her father, Ms Abbott said family should be off limits.

"I feel for the prime minister in the sense that she has lost her dad and he was obviously a very important person in her life as is Tony in the life of my daughters."