A scholarship awarded to Frances Abbott was based on merit, says her father Tony Abbott. Source: AAP
PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has defended his daughter's scholarship from a design college chaired by a Liberal Party donor and friend.
Frances Abbott's scholarship at the Whitehouse Institute of Design has not been declared on her father's pecuniary interest register, even though he has declared other matters relating to his children such as trips, accommodation and tickets to sporting events.
MPs are required to disclose gifts above specified threshold limits, with extra requirements for ministers where a gift is retained.
But there is no rule about scholarships for MPs' children.
The institute is chaired by Les Taylor - a long-time donor to the Liberals - who gave Mr Abbott gifts of clothing in February 2012 and April 2013, which were recorded in his pecuniary interest register.
Frances was awarded a scholarship there in 2011 based on her application and art portfolio.
Mr Abbott told Fairfax radio on Thursday his daughter got it on her academic potential.
"She kept it on her academic merit - she is a distinction student," he said.
The college was so pleased with Frances' performance it offered her a place in their initial Masters course, he said.
Mr Abbott did not believe the matter warranted media interest.
"Family should be left out of this," he said.
A spokeswoman for the prime minister said if Mr Abbott received alternative advice on declaring the scholarship he would "meet the amended requirements".
Frances graduated in December 2013 and is working at Whitehouse in Melbourne as a teacher's aide.
The NSW Electoral Funding Authority register shows Mr Taylor has donated more than $20,000 to the NSW Liberal Party in the past six years.
A spokesman for the institute, Ian Tudor, told AAP that Frances' scholarship was the "chairman's scholarship, which is awarded occasionally".
"Frances was the second recipient," he said.
But he said he understood the selection was done "at arm's length" from the chairman by the managing director of the institute, Leanne Whitehouse.
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