Secret stepdaughter of Julia Gillard in hiding after being outed

Melbourne, August 17 (ANI): The love child of 'first bloke' Tim Mathieson, partner of Julia Gillard, is keeping a low profile during this year's Federal election.

Staci Child, 31, is one of the most sought after stylists overseas.

Child, 31, lists on her Facebook that she supports gay marriage and climate change, but when asked about her father's likely move to the Lodge, she declined to comment.

"I would love to do that story ... but I'm a little limited on what I'm allowed to say to the press until after the election," News.com.au quoted her as telling Woman's Day.

As Gillard launched the Labor party's campaign in Brisbane, Child has gone to ground in New York following revelations of her link to the PM.

She has abandoned her loft apartment in Manhattan's trendy Lower East Side after she was named as Tim Mathieson's once-estranged daughter.

When she was approached her at her apartment, a woman with a piercing through her cheek answered the door.

"I'm her best friend and I know all about it (the reports in Australia) but she's not home right now," she said.

Mathieson has two other adult children with his former wife Diane Stark and has described his relationship with Staci and her mother as "amicable". (ANI)