Making a brief stopover in Kiama on Saturday as part of a charity bike ride, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott wasn’t fielding questions about youth detention or reform of Australia's political donations system.
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However, arriving in the seaside town on the day of its local government elections, Mr Abbott did have some advice for the next crop of Kiama councillors.
He joked that elections taking place meant “all the controversy is somewhere else today”.
“(I’d offer) the same advice that you’d give to anyone who wants to hold public office.
“Remember that it’s not about the politician or the councillor, it’s about the people. If you focus on the people you can’t go too far wrong.”
Mr Abbott and Andrew “Reidy” Reid from reality show Bondi Rescue were among 40 cyclists stopping at Kiama’s Blowhole Point as part of the Bondi2Berry Ride to Remember fundraiser.
The cyclists were riding 150km from Bondi to Berry to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s disease research.
The former PM described the ride as tough, as he was riding with “people who are much younger and much fitter than I am”.
The Mercury queried the Federal Member for Warringah on whether when he took part in such physically demanding events if members of the public asked him if he was potentially keeping fit for the ‘top job’ again.
“People always make little jokes, and I tell them not to be so wicked,” he laughed.
Bondi2Berry organisers were hoping to raise at least $20,000 for Alzheimer’s Australia NSW.