Former prime minister Tony Abbott takes aim at colleagues, media, and Malcolm Turnbull in post-coup radio interview

TONY Abbott is still opining freely on national radio, but this morning, one question led him to invoke “the former PM’s prerogative of silence”.

FORMER prime minister Tony Abbott is lashing out at those who contributed to his downfall, taking aim at those who had acted as “an assassin’s knife”.

Speaking with Neil Mitchell on 3AW today, Mr Abbott clearly still believes he was leading a good government who would win the next election.

“The point I want to make is we were doing a good job,” he said.

“Obviously the polls were difficult but I am absolutely confident that we would have won the election under my prime ministership.”

Mr Turnbull has today thrown out one of Mr Abbott’s key policies — university reform — and looks likely to make many more changes in the coming months.

But Mr Abbott was careful not to rubbish his successor, for fear of tearing apart the Liberal party.

When asked about last month’s ousting, Mr Abbott failed to state whether he had forgiven Mr Turnbull and those instrumental to his downfall.

“It’s probably one where I might exercise the former PM’s prerogative of silence,” he said when asked if he had forgiven his successor.

“There’s obviously been a lot of dirty water under the bridge and I guess in time all things are more readily understood, more readily accommodated.”

He said while he felt he was “assassinated” as leader, he is urging Liberal Party members not to abandon the party even though he understands their dismay.

Though new PM Malcolm Turnbull has disputed claims hundreds of grassroots members are deserting the party after last week’s coup, the ousted leader says he understands why “ a lot of people feel bruised”, but pleaded with them to “please, stay in”.

Mr Abbott appeared hurt yet unsurprised by his fall from the leadership.

“I have often said that Malcolm didn’t stay in the parliament to be someone else’s minister,” he said.

“He’s now got his chance in the top job ... let’s hope he makes the most of it”.

On the question of his own future in parliament, Mr Abbott would not rule out a return to the front bench, though pledged not to become a Rudd-like wrecker while still sitting.

“The last thing I want to be is a thorn in the side of the people doing what they can, inevitably under difficult circumstances to serve our country,” he said.

The now backbencher took aim at those he sees involved in his ousting.

“I think a lot of individuals have got to ask themselves, a lot of people in media have got to ask themselves, why did they allow themselves to be an assassin’s knife?”

Mr Abbott pointed out the government had built “a strong foundation” under his leadership. “I’m confident Malcolm and his team will build on that foundation,” he said.

Taking out the trash ... Malcolm Turnbull says ‘everything is on the table’ at his reform summit. Picture: Rob Griffith/AP

The new Prime Minister is today putting his stamp on Abbott-era government policies, and throwing a few out, at his reform summit.

The shelving of Abbott’s much maligned university deregulation policy, which would have allowed universities to set their own fees, has been the first departure.

Mr Abbott said he understood the move, “given the realities of the senate”.

During the interview, he also admitted he was unwise to knight Prince Philip.

The former prime minister’s decision to reinstate the knights and dames in the Australian honours list was widely criticised and is likely to be scrapped by Mr Turnbull’s cabinet.

“Obviously it was an injudicious appointment,” Mr Abbott said.