Tony Abbott tells Northern Beaches faithful he will keep standing up for ‘disenfranchised’ Liberals

TONY Abbott has for the first time addressed claims he is causing disunity among Liberals, saying he has made a “judgment” call to continue raising issues important to disenfranchised party members­.

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Tony Abbott has for the first time addressed claims he is causing disunity among Liberals, saying he has made a “judgment” call to continue raising issues important to disenfranchised party members­.

The former prime minister made the remarks at a community event on Tuesday night, where he was buoyed by support from voters who begged him to continue fighting for Liberal policy, or topple Malcolm Turnbull.

The Daily Telegraph has obtained a video of a Q & A session Mr Abbott held for locals in the Seaforth, Balgowlah and Clontarf areas, where he said he would “continue” to stand up for Liberals let down by the Turnbull government’s high-spending federal Budget and other policies.

“I’ve made the judgment that at least for the moment, and obviously there’s a limit to how far this can continue … it’s important for someone to stand up for those Liberals feeling a bit let down and disenfranchised because we do not want the more traditional or conservative Liberals to leave the party and join some other party,” Mr Abbott said.

Mr Abbott indicated his criticisms of the Turnbull government would have an end-date.

His comments came in response to an audience member who told the ex-PM he feared his recent commentary was setting Australia on a course for a Labor government­.

“It’s a very fair point you make because these things are all a question of balance and judgment and sometimes all of us can get the balance wrong, our judgment can be awry,” Mr Abbott said.

“There is, it’s no secret at the moment, a bit of division inside the ranks of those who have regarded themselves as Liberals.”

But Mr Abbott indicated his criticisms of the Turnbull government would have an end-date, and then he would throw his support behind the Coalition ahead of the next election.

“So that’s the judgment that I’ve made … and at some point in time, whatever misgivings we might have, we swallow them and we get on with the job, which is trying to make sure that the Turnbull-Joyce Coalition government gets re-elected,” he said.

Applause met Mr Abbott’s comment that he would continue fighting for conservative policy, with three locals, who were not Liberal members, standing up to ask him to fix the Liberal Party.

“Please keep batting for us with all of the conservative values, whether it be out in the open or behind closed doors because I’m sure a lot of people here are very concerned that the Liberal Party is being derailed by Malcolm Turnbull,” one young female voter said.

TONY ABBOTT SLAP DOWNS

Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce

“He was the prime minister of the nation - an incredible honour - and he knows more than most the best thing for our nation is to have a Nationals-Liberal coalition government to try and guide the way forward.”

Senator Nick Xenophon

“I think Tony Abbott’s being a huge pain in the arse right now.”

The Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison

The speech by the former Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, is political "background noise."

Frontbencher Dan Tehan

“If you look at the history of the Australia parliament we’ve always had to get legislation through the House and through the Senate ... and you always needed to compromise. That’s what Tony Abbott did during the Howard government."

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg

“Or is it Bill Shorten, the alternative prime minister? He’s the one who’s benefitting most, unfortunately, from Tony Abbott's constant interventions."

FORMER ABBOTT SUPPORT SLAPS DOWN FORMER PM

A senior cabinet minister has delivered the strongest response yet to Tony Abbott over the former prime minister’s constant criticisms of the coalition government.

Josh Frydenberg has questioned who is benefiting from Abbott’s constant attacks. Picture Kym Smith

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg offered a scathing assessment of his former boss when asked whether Mr Abbott was proving a help or a hindrance. Mr Frydenberg says the former prime minister must ask himself who benefits most from his endless critiques of the government.

“Is it the party members who want to see a continuation of the Liberal government? The answer is no,” he told ABC radio today.

“Is it my parliamentary colleagues who want to see them retain their own seats and the government stay in office? The answer is no.

“Nor is it the Australian people who want to see the government talk about health and education, protecting people with disability and national security.

“Or is it Bill Shorten, the alternative prime minister? He’s the one who’s benefiting most, unfortunately, from Tony Abbott’s constant interventions.”