Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (C) speaks with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Canada's Foreign Minister John Baird
Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (C) speaks with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd R partially hidden) and Canada's Foreign Minister John Baird (L) at the start of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit ministerial meetings at the China National Convention Centre (CNCC) in Beijing November 7, 2014. Reuters/Greg Baker/Pool

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop dismissed the alleged rift in her relation with Prime Minister Tony Abbott's chief of staff Peta Credlin. An earlier report claimed that the relation of the two had "irretrievably broken down."

Both Bishop and Credlin denied the strained relationship. Bishop said that her relation with Credlin was still "very professional, close and very good." She said that she found it surprising that the story had been circulated even though both of them had denied the claim. Credlin, on the other hand, said that he had a "strong and constructive" relation with the foreign minister. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that some MPs were not happy with Credlin. Queensland Senator Ian Macdonald openly criticised Credlin for being too controlling.

The report in question was by The Australian which quoted one unidentified frontbencher, saying that the two women were "like two Siamese fighting fish stuck in the same tank." The person also said that that there was no way that the relation could be improved. Bishop apparently refused to take Credlin's directives. Bishop, on the contrary, said that neither she nor Credlin have any idea how the news had come up. "In fact, Peta and I have discussed the story yesterday and we are nonplussed where it could have come from," she said, "We work together on many issues. The Prime Minister's Office and [my] office work in close co-operation."

The Australian's report also claimed that one of the close allies of Mr Abbott said that the two should "sit down and have it out" as it should not continue like that. A Liberal MP said that Bishop was not the only one who had problems with Credlin. The "backbenchers" apparently support Bishop's decision not take orders from Credlin anymore. However, some cabinet ministers found it to be a "self-promotion campaign" by Bishop. They argue that Mr Abbott should not be put under pressure because of this, especially at a time when his popularity seemed to be taking a nosedive. None of the MPs, who support or criticse Bishop, is identified.

Meanwhile, there were reports that Credlin might enter Parliament in 2015. However, Mr Abbott's spokeswoman said that Credlin had no intention of running for Parliament at the moment.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au