Funerals take Abbott off Pollie Pedal

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is expected to miss the second day of his much-loved charity Pollie Pedal as he jets to Singapore for the funeral of Lee Kuan Yew.

After launching the four-day cycling event in northern Tasmania on Friday, Mr Abbott travelled to Melbourne for the funeral of former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, without getting the chance to ride.

On Saturday he pedalled about 40kms in the afternoon but on Sunday his fluoro yellow helmet is unlikely to be used, as he heads to Singapore to join foreign dignitaries including former US President Bill Clinton, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Indian President Narendra Modi in paying his respects to the island nation's former leader.

The Prime Minister's absence from the NSW state election was noted by many yesterday. A spokesman for Mr Abbott said he had cast a pre-poll vote due to charity commitments taking him out of the state.