Former prime minister Tony Abbott has been elected federal president of the Liberal Party.
Abbott, who was appointed unopposed, told the federal council in Melbourne he owes the party “big time”.
“I owe the Liberal Party big time and that’s why I regard it as my duty to serve the party in this time of existential crisis,” Abbott told the gathering.
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“As the last successful federal leader of the opposition, I do believe that I have the ability to help Angus Taylor to be the next successful federal leader of the opposition and to become our 32nd prime minister.”
He said the country was drifting backwards, citing mass migration and what he called damaging taxes and an unnecessary focus on emissions reductions.
“We don’t believe in ourselves anymore,” Abbott said.
“Our economy is stagnating, our society is fragmenting, our security is in peril, and underneath it all, there is a kind of spiritual malaise.
“I absolutely believe in the marrow of my being that we remain the best hope of better government in this country.”
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has been confirmed as the Liberal Party’s new federal president. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Support for the federal Liberal Party has plummeted to historic lows amid a turbulent leadership change in which Taylor took the top job in February.
Many see Abbott’s appointment as a response to the rise of One Nation and the conservative vote in Australia.
“Tony Abbott is locked in the past, and by electing him as their president, the Liberal Party have shown that they continue to be locked in the past themselves,” Labor minister Murray Watt said.
Abbott has previously said he does not want to see the Liberals become “One Nation-light”, and that he wants to see a return of the Liberal Party from the Menzies and Howard eras.
Abbott’s return to the political frontline indicates the party is set to focus on campaigning, former Howard government advisor Ian Hanke said.
Tony Abbott is returning to active political life – as the Liberal Party’s next federal president. (Russell Freeman/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP “Mr Abbott was an excellent campaigner and opposition leader with a laser-like focus on messaging and nailing the other side,” Hanke told AAP.
“His experience and also working with Angus, who has sharpened up his act a lot compared to where he was 12 or 15 months ago, will be very beneficial.”
According to a Roy Morgan survey published on Tuesday, primary support for the coalition dropped one per cent to 23 per cent in the past week while support for One Nation increased by one per cent to 25.5 per cent.
Labor Party support fell two per cent to 27.5 per cent during the same period.
– With AAP