Tony Abbott to hit the road to campaign on national tour in marginal seats

FORMER prime minister Tony Abbott will launch his own DIY national election tour, campaigning in marginal seats across Australia, after the Liberal Party failed to organise him a formal role.

FORMER prime minister Tony Abbott will launch his own DIY national election tour, campaigning in marginal seats across Australia, after the Liberal Party failed to organise him a formal role.

Mr Abbott is already fielding ­requests to deploy to NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory with some MPs grumbling Malcolm Turnbull isn’t spending enough time helping marginal seat MPs with fundraising.

The Prime Minister’s Office and Liberal Party director Tony Nutt have not been in touch with Mr Abbott to organise a formal role in the looming campaign.

Liberal party director Tony Nutt has not been in contact with Tony Abbott regarding a formal role.

But Mr Abbott, who has plenty of time on his hands now that he is a backbencher, insists that he’s just ­offering a helping hand.

“My main focus will be campaigning in Warringah but I will also support the election of the Turnbull government by campaigning with my colleagues in marginal seats where I’m asked to do so,’’ Mr Abbott said.

Mr Abbott is expected to use his travel entitlement as a former prime minister to conduct some of the domestic travel. All retired PMs ­secure access to additional entitlements, including more travel and more staff even if they stay in politics.

He is on a world tour during which he has shaken hands with British Prime Minister David Cameron and been lauded in the Ukraine by President Petro Poroshenko.

It’s all ready to roll ...

Tony Abbott tweeted this photo with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Northern Territory MP Natasha Griggs, who is fiercely loyal to Mr Abbott and walked out of September’s leadership ballot walking side by side with the PM, said he was always welcome in her electorate. She holds the bellwether seat that includes Darwin by a tiny 1.4 per cent margin.

“I know Tony Abbott is as keen as I am to see a Turnbull government elected,’’ Ms Griggs said.

“It’s always good to be joined on the hustings with good campaigners like Tony. I hope he will be one of the many colleagues, including Prime Minister Turnbull, to visit my electorate during the upcoming election campaign. I will be doing everything I can to ensure that Labor doesn’t win.’’

Northern Territory MP Natasha Griggs said Mr Abbott is always welcome in to her electorate. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Abbott is also expected to visit the electorate held by the other member of his “Tony’s Angels’’, the female MPs who flanked him as he emerged from his political knifing in the partyroom last year.

Karen McNamara, the member for Dobell, is expected to welcome Mr Abbott to her NSW central coast seat which is held by a 5.1 per cent margin.

In Victoria, Mr Abbott has a fundraiser in the planning stage with the member for Deakin, Michael Sukkar, which is the second most marginal seat in Australia on a 0.6 per cent margin.

Federal Liberal MP Karen McNamara (right) is expected to welcome Mr Abbott to her NSW Central coast seat.

Mr Abbott raised eyebrows last week when he suggested any win for the Turnbull government would be an endorsement of his own time as prime minister because the policies had not substantially changed. Mr Turnbull ­returned serve by arguing that “the bottom line is there is continuity and change”.