Scott Morrison says he’ll give Tony Abbott ‘space’ after second interview lashing colleagues over prime ministerhip

FORMER colleagues give dumped PM a wide berth, despite bitter tell-all interview.

Former PM Tony Abbott in his new Backbenchers office at Parliament House in Canberra.

SCOTT Morrison says he’s giving Tony Abbott “space”, following the former prime minister’s dumping.

The new Treasurer maintains he warned Mr Abbott’s office about the risk of a leadership spill, just days before it took place and Malcolm Turnbull took over.

But that hasn’t stopped Mr Abbott from lashing out at Mr Morrison and saying he had “misled people”.

“These things are very emotional events,” Mr Morrison told 2GB radio on Monday.

“I’ll give Tony his space; I’ve got an important job to get on with.

“I wish only the best to him and Margie for their future and the decisions they’re having to make.” Mr Morrison revealed he hasn’t spoken to Mr Abbott since the leadership ballot a fortnight ago.

It comes after Mr Abbott’s first sit-down interview since being ousted from the top job, in which he expressed his dismay at the actions of the Liberal party.

“Obviously I know, having been a practitioner of politics in this country, that the top job has never been less secure … it is obvious,” he told The Saturday Telegraph.

“But certainly I never thought having watched the Labor Party implode that the Coalition would want to venture own the same path. My judgment turned out to be wrong.”

And despite being ditched as PM, Mr Abbott said the public would be mistaken to think Mr Turnbull was much different.

Tony Abbott in his new backbencher’s office at Parliament House.

“In a policy sense there is very little departure. Border protection policy the same, national security policy the same, economic policy the same … even same-sex marriage policy the same, and climate change policy the same. In fact the rhetoric is the same.

“The policy hasn’t changed and indeed the rhetoric hasn’t changed. Again, it is not about me but obviously these are questions that people may ponder.

“The commentariat have now got the PM they want but the public have lost the PM they vote for … this is a real issue for our country.”

The Treasurer’s interview with 2GB host Ray Hadley took place more than a week after a combative on-air encounter over Mr Morrison’s actions in the lead-up and aftermath of Mr Abbott’s departure.

Mr Morrison reassured Hadley he would continue his longstanding, regular appearances on his program.

Ahead of their previous encounter Hadley had warned Mr Morrison to bring his hard hat.