Abbott's daughter attended university for free

Tony Abbott's daughter Frances was awarded a $60,000 scholarship for a degree from a design school where a donor to her father sits as chairman on the board of governors.

The 22-year-old received the degree from the Whitehouse Institute of Design in Sydney from 2011 to 2013, The Guardian reports.

Leanne Whitehouse, the director of the school, confirmed to The Guardian Miss Abbott "was a student with us and received a chairman's scholarship".

Ms Whitehouse declined to detail how many times the "chairman's scholarship" has been award previously, as the Whitehouse Institute's website makes no references to the scholarship and states the school "does not currently offer scholarships to gain a place into the Bachelor of Design".

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The revelation raises the question as to whether or not the scholarship should have been declared by the prime minister.

Members of parliament are required to disclose gifts above specified threshold limits with additional requirements for ministers where a gift is retained.

A spokesperson for the prime minister confirmed Miss Abbott was a recipient of a scholarship at the school and said it was awarded as a result of her "application and art portfolio".

The spokesperson added that the disclosure of the scholarship "was not required" and it was "an award based on merit".

The news of the scholarship come admits growing anger among students over the Coalition government's planned cuts to tertiary education funding announced in this month's budget.

Source: The Guardian

Author: Natasha Lee, Approving editor: Jack Hawke