Defiant former prime minister Tony Abbott vows to keep speaking his mind on Federal Government policy

A DEFIANT Tony Abbott has vowed to keep speaking his mind on Federal ­Government policy direction despite several senior Liberals calling for the “out of control” Warringah MP to back off.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott at the Liberal Party Democratic Reform event in Sydney. Picture: Brian Esposito.

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IN an exclusive interview with the Manly Daily, former prime minister Tony Abbott has said he is well within his rights to speak out on decisions made by the man who ­replaced him in the top job.

A defiant Mr Abbott vowed to keep speaking his mind on Federal ­Government policy direction despite several senior Liberals calling for the “out of control” Warringah MP to back off.

And, when asked, he ­directly denied wanting to reclaim the prime ministership from Malcolm Turnbull saying: “No, I am very happy being a backbench member of the Government because it gives me the freedom to speak as I think best, and it gives me more time to be a very conscious local member.”

Tony Abbott speaking at a meeting of the Institute of Public Affairs. Picture: Facebook

Yesterday, National Party Senator John Williams urged Mr Abbott to be a “team player”, warning that “division is death”.

It followed criticism from senior colleagues including Treasurer Scott Morrison, Innovation Minister Arthur Sinodinos and Victorian state director Michael ­Kroger that he should show more support to Mr Turnbull to unify the party.

“Obviously I support the Government, I support the Prime Minister, I am a member of the Government and it has always been the Liberal Party tradition that backbenchers can speak their mind on policy issues,” Mr Abbott said.

“That is what I have done, I have been very consistent over the last few months about where I think we need to be going.”

Mr Abbott justified his recent spate of highly publicised speaking engagements which have been critical of the Turnbull Government, saying he had a mandate from his election as prime minister in 2013 to do so.

“I am just doing what is perfectly within the rights of a backbench member of our party which is to speak out in support of the values and traditions which have traditionally been our party’s,” he said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addressed Mr Abbott’s criticisms at Crows Nest on Monday. Picture: Adam Yip.

“We were elected in 2013 promising lower taxes, lower spending, a sensible mainstream approach to issues like climate change and that is exactly the position I am advocating for.”

But Mr Abbott’s recent speaking tour has caught the ire of some in his electorate, with punters taking to social media to vent frustrations.

Former Nick Xenophon candidate Marie Rowland used the first anniversary of Mr Abbott’s re-election to the seat of Warringah on July 2, to question his ­commitment.

“Tony Abbott’s prime enterprise is to destroy his own government … as our elected representative, surely the people of Warringah deserve better,” she said.

Ms Rowland suggested Mr Abbott was using the local electorate as “a means to his ends”.

“I am concerned that our goodwill and hard-earned taxpayer funds are being used to run an agenda that has nothing to do with Warringah,” she said.

But Mr Abbott said he believed he had achieved a lot for the northern beaches.

Warringah candidate for the Nick Xenophon team at last year’s Federal Election Marie Rowland. Picture: Braden Fastier.

“There is no inconsistency between been a very strong member for Warringah and, from time to time, speaking out on important wider ­issues,” he said.

“That is what you would expect a good member of parliament to do, to have an opinion on issues other than the merely local.”

Mr Abbott pointed to a list of his achievements, some of which have been implemented by the State Government.

“I am really pleased the things I have been pushing for ever since I was elected we will soon have — the big new hospital (in Frenchs Forest), the State Government is getting on with the northern beaches tunnel,” he said. “The money ($12.5 million) is there for Brookie oval as soon as people who control the site can agree on what happens.”

Assistant Minister to the Treasurer Michael Sukkar during Question Time in the House of Representatives last month. Picture: Mick Tsikas.

Mr Abbott also pointed to funding for upgrades to the Royal Far West building in Manly and the ­establishment of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, which controls former ­Commonwealth-owned sites around Sydney Harbour.

“Lots of good things are happening locally, I am really pleased, I don’t think all would be progressing quite as they are but for your local federal member,” he said.

Mr Abbott addressed a Victorian Liberal Party branch meeting in Assistant Minister to the Treasurer Michael Sukkar’s electorate on ­Monday night.

Mr Sukkar told AAP the guest speaker’s appearance was a longstanding and routine invitation.

A Guardian Essential poll on Tuesday showed 43 per cent of the more than 1000 people surveyed ­believed Mr Abbott should resign from parliament.

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison has called on Mr Abbott to fall into line. Picture: Keri Megelus.

‘I can’t control Abbott’, Sinodinos says

Tony talks it up:

The former prime minister has been on a week-long speaking tour that has been highly critical of the Coalition’s policy.

It has included:

— June 27 in Brisbane: Speaking to conservative faithful, Mr Abbott outlined an alternative policy manifesto how he would change policy on energy, immigration levels, budget repair, Senate reform and national security.

— June 29 in Sydney: During a speech at the Centre for Independent Studies titled “Submarines: why settle for second best?”, he criticised the capability of Australia’s submarine fleet and called for nuclear submarines.

— July 1 in Sydney: Mr Abbott was a keynote speaker at a democratic reform rally calling for the Liberal Party to allow plebiscites for preselection of candidates.

— July 3 in Victoria: While making media appearances, he told reporters that factional bosses were causing the Liberal Party to “haemorrhage members”. He also addressed conservative members of the party at Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar’s local branch meeting.