Prime Minister’s media wrangler departs. Kate Walshe, who has been in Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s office since the election, has resigned and finished up on Friday, Crikey can reveal. Walshe is the third big departure from Abbott’s office in recent times, and she has worked in Liberal ministers’ offices for over a decade, including for Kevin Andrews, Julie Bishop and Ted Ballieu. Most recently Walshe was reported to be responsible for booking all ministerial media appearances when Abbott decided to impose a ban on his ministry appearing on Q&A. The Bronwyn Bishop scandal has largely taken attention off what became the never-ending Zaky Mallah saga, so maybe it was a good time for a quiet exit?

Abbott’s office confirmed Walshe had left on Friday. When asked why she left, a spokesperson for the prime minster’s office told us it was “none of [our] business”.

We’ll take that as a comment.

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