A curious thing happens to me whenever I get together with former Liberal Party leadership aspirant Tony Abbott. I get these weird emails.

In early 2006, I emceed a debate involving the then Health Minister at the Australian National University.

It was a very rowdy affair, coming as it did, in the middle of the debate about abortion drug RU486, in which Abbott was deeply embroiled.

There were groups of chanting students with megaphones, scuffles and lots of pushing and shoving. And Tony lapped it up – the former boxer clearly loves a bit of verbal biffo as well. It was difficult to control as the crowd surged around but we managed to have some kind of debate and at least it wasn’t boring – as such events often are.

Sure, I fired a few barbs at Abbott, but nothing he couldn’t handle.

Anyway, I flew home and the next day got this weird email from someone called Lucky Jim. It said simply this: “G’Day Timmy, Just a quick note to say that your performance at ANU last week was the most repetitive, self-absorbed and – most importantly – humourless attempt at MC’ing I’ve ever seen. Cheer’s LJ.”

This kind of rubbishing is unfortunately an occupational hazard of having any sort of public profile and/or opinion.

Anyway, foolishly I engaged with this person – firing back a few ripostes before getting bored with the whole thing.

But here’s where the story gets interesting.

A full year-and-a-half later, just a few months ago, I emceed a debate on depression at the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross in my role as Youth Ambassador.

I welcomed Abbott and, as you would expect, in introducing him I gave him a bit of a friendly shellacking. But it was a good natured debate, admittedly in front of a left-leaning crowd.

But everyone was very appreciative he came.

You really have to hand it to a bloke who, as federal Health Minister, drives himself to a local debate with a few hundred people. In fact, after the debate he complimented my efforts and inquired jokingly if I’d like to join the Liberal Party. I said yes, but only if they could guarantee me a safe seat.

Anyway, the next day I got another email from ‘Lucky Jim’, after over a year of not hearing from ‘him’ at all. It said: “Hi Timmy, One year later you MCing effort still ranks as the worst I have every seen. I hear you are now employed as a spruiker for a hotel in Sydney and as an ‘analyst’ of Big Brother on a free content website. Better luck next life, eh? Your Pal, Lucky Jim.”

Now I’m not suggesting it was Tony who sent me the email, or someone close to him – I find that a little hard to believe. But it’s equally hard to fathom that someone would have attended both debates in separate cities a year-and-a-half apart. Or that it was purely a coincidence that ‘Lucky Jim’ sent me a second email on the day directly after seeing Tony Abbott.

I looked up ‘Lucky Jim’s’ email address and it just came up in a few obscure tennis gambling sites.

Why would a guy like Tony Abbott, who has held various ministries, been a Bulletin journalist, a press sec to John Hewson, a student council leader at Sydney University and who attended Oxford – earning himself a few boxing blues while there – be sending nasty emails?

It is hard to believe.

But on the very remote chance it was him… I’m glad he’s pulled out of the leadership debate. Not least, so he’s got enough time to keep sending strange emails and providing me with material.

For the original article at LIVENEWS.com.au, click here.