Give Peta Credlin some credit, and give her a break SINCE the Coalition was elected to government, criticisms of Tony Abbott's chief of staff, Peta Credlin, have come thick and fast. Disgruntled MPs upset with demotion (or a lack of promotion) have blamed her. Frontbenchers and backbenchers alike who have had staffing selections knocked back by the infamous "star chamber" have criticised Credlin's "controlling" ways.