OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott claims he doesn't know if Reserve Bank board member and Kevin Rudd critic Roger Corbett is a member of the Liberal Party.
Mr Corbett caused a storm in the final week of the election campaign when he criticised the prime minister for doing "enormous damage" to the ALP after he was deposed in 2010.
There were calls from Labor on Wednesday for Mr Corbett to resign from the RBA amid reports he is a Liberal Party member.
Mr Abbott says he's not sure if Mr Corbett is a member of his party.
"I'm not aware that I've ever seen him at any branch meeting," he told ABC radio on Thursday.
"But look, he's a very distinguished businessman."
The opposition leader was reminded that Mr Corbett was a guest at a $550-a-head Liberal fundraising dinner in Sydney on Wednesday night.
"He was indeed," Mr Abbott admitted.
"So were lots and lots of people who aren't members of the Liberal Party but who desperately want a change of government."
Mr Corbett, who is also chairman of Fairfax Media, should be entitled to say that the Labor government had been a "comprehensive shemozzle", Mr Abbott said.
"I remember (former trade unionist) Bill Kelty who was a Reserve Bank board member being very involved in election campaigns," Mr Abbott said.
"If Bill Kelty could be on the Reserve Bank board and campaign for the political party of his choice, why can't Roger Corbett?"
Mr Abbott quickly sought to clarify his comment, saying Mr Corbett was providing "commentary" and not campaigning for the Liberals.
