‘I’ll spare you the rest’: Listen to Tony Abbott’s Tom Jones cover

August 18, 2026 — 5:00am

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Regular readers will no doubt recall that CBD brought word last month that Tony Abbott would be the star attraction at a Liberal Party fundraiser headlined “Bling it on” in the NSW electorate of East Hills.

And boy, the former prime minister did not disappoint. Last Thursday evening, Abbott gave Linda Hurley, the warbling wife of former governor-general David Hurley, a run for her money when he took the mic at The Grand Vaudeville and offered guests a special performance of the song Green, Green Grass of Home popularised by Tom Jones.

Abbott, singing in the coldly lit room with chandeliers overhead, even changed the lyrics to accommodate the name of the electorate. None of which we knew, until a video of the performance posted to social media made its way to our desk on Monday.

“Hair of gold and lips like cherries. It’s good to touch the East East Hills........

© The Sydney Morning Herald