Tony Abbott says it’s his ‘right’ to talk about the government’s performance and he’ll keep doing it

DESPITE calls to shut up or quit, former PM Tony Abbott says he’ll keep criticising the government — and the man who took his job — whenever he likes.

Tony Abbott says it’s his right to speak out on issues as a former Prime Minister, and he’ll keep doing it whenever he likes. Picture: Kym Smith

DESPITE calls from some of his Coalition colleagues to keep quiet or quit, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he’ll continuing voicing his critical opinion whenever he likes.

Appearing on Jones and Co on Sky News on Tuesday night, Mr Abbott told the show’s host Alan Jones that it was his “absolute right” to speak out.

There has been continuing backlash to Mr Abbott’s running commentary on Malcolm Turnbull, government policy and consistent polling that shows an electoral defeat is likely.

His increasingly vocal opinions have caused many to speculate that the man knifed by Malcolm Turnbull in September 2015 wants his old job back.

“The important thing is that I do the best I can for the people for Warringah and as a former prime minister, from time to time of course I should say my piece on local and international issues of significance,” he said.

“I have an absolute right and sometimes a duty to speak out … that’s what I intend to do.”

Tony Abbott during his first fortnightly chat with Ray Hadley on radio station 2GB in Sydney. Picture: Twitter

Liberal backbencher Warren Entsch called on the dumped leader to resign if he was so unhappy.

However Mr Abbott rejected the suggestion that he was white-anting the government or PM.

“From the moment you (became) PM, people were white-anting you at every turn,” Mr Jones suggested, to which Mr Abbott didn’t respond.

His public suggestions for how to reverse the Coalition’s fortunes were helpful, he insisted.

Tony Abbott on Jones and Co on Tuesday night, defending his running commentary of the government’s performance. Picture: Supplied

Voters who might be tempted to turn to fringe parties needed to understand “there are people inside the Coalition who get their issues” and want to “stand up and support their values”, he said.

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Should Opposition Leader Bill Shorten become the next PM, it would be “the worst Labor government in history”, Mr Abbott insisted.

He laughed off repeated calls from Mr Jones to return to the leadership.

“Some say go, some say stay,” Mr Abbott said.

Warren Entsch has told former PM Tony Abbott to shut up or quit the party.

However the Coalition should avoid repeating Labor’s mistake of having a revolving door of leaders, he said.

“The point that has to be made is that the less we emulate the Labor Party, the better.

“Labor destroyed itself through this process of political cannibalism. The last thing we want is to have more political cannibalism inside our government.”

Mr Abbott shared his thoughts on the government’s scrapping of the 457 visa program, saying “we don’t want low-skilled, low-wage people” and he reaffirmed his support for the idea of allowing first homebuyers to dip into their superannuation to fund their deposits.

.@TonyAbbottMHR says there is considerable support to allow young people to access their superannuation. #jonesandco pic.twitter.com/YAjH6rdnb4

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) 18 April 2017

He also touched on renewable energy, the coal sector and political correctness.

“What people want is the ability to live a better life. That means less pressure on their cost of living, less red tape, less intrusive government … we need to give people something to hope for.”

Mr Abbott was also asked about his faith and whether Christianity was “under siege”.

“Thank God for confession, Alan,” he replied.

“We show far more respect for other religions than we do for our own.”

Voters tempted to move towards right-wing minor parties needed to be reminded that the Coalition still valued them, Tony Abbott said. Picture: AAP

Earlier in the evening, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton appeared on ABC’s 7.30 and was pressed on whether Mr Abbott was damaging the government.

“Tony has been very clear about wanting to see this government re-elected … he doesn’t want Bill Shorten elected,” Mr Dutton said.

Originally published as Tony Abbott says it’s his ‘right’ to talk about the government’s performance and he’ll keep doing it