PM's inspirational upbringing: Credlin

Peta Credlin has sought to clarify her "Mr Harbourside Mansion" jibe at Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Tony Abbott's former chief of staff, writing in News Corp newspapers on Sunday, said Mr Turnbull and his wife Lucy bought their home in Sydney's eastern suburbs after many years of hard work.

"He has an inspirational self-made background and he's got to disable Labor's attack by telling his story rather than let them define him," Ms Credlin wrote, backing away from her criticism of Mr Turnbull's decision to abandon a planned street walk in western Sydney.