I’m not plotting with Dutton, says Tony Abbott

After a week of debate on migration, Tony Abbott has been forced to deny he’s formulated plans with the Home Affairs minister.

Tony Abbott and Peter Dutton in a joint party room meeting in Canberra. The former Pm says Dutton is not the sort of person to ‘sit around plotting.’ Picture: Kym Smith

Tony Abbott has denied he’s in cahoots with Peter Dutton to bring down Malcolm Turnbull.

The former prime minister was quizzed on his relationship with the home affairs minister after a week of debate over migration levels.

“I admire (Peter) as a bloke and I respect him as a politician so I guess we would naturally be inclined to think along similar lines,” Mr Abbott told 2GB radio on Sunday.

“So it doesn’t surprise me that Peter has been pushing for a reduction in the migration intake.” Further prompted on whether there are any quiet evening meetings between the pair, working their cards, Mr Abbott said: “No that’s not how it works in this business.”

“Peter is an honourable man and the last thing that he would do is sit down with a colleague and plot stuff,” he said.

Mr Abbott, who is wrapping up his annual charity bike ride on Sunday, was again spruiking his push for a reduction in Australia’s migration intake until housing and infrastructure can catch up.

He also reiterated his call for the construction of new coal-fired power stations to help drive down energy prices.

Mr Abbott predicts the next election could be around next May.

“Whenever it is, it is important that people know that this has been a good government and is working for them not against them,” he said.

Earlier, Liberal frontbencher Steven Ciobo rejected suggestions the federal government was in shambles despite clocking up 30 negative Newspolls, which sparked another round of infighting over its leadership, energy and immigration policy.

Mr Ciobo said people were not interested in these internal discussions but are concerned about job security and who is helping to lower the cost of living pressures.

“We have delivered in spades, we have record job creation ... that’s not the consequence of a shambles, that is the consequence of disciplined economic policy,” the trade minister told Sky News on Sunday.

AAP