Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott leaves door open on return to Federal politics

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has left the door open to a return to Federal politics if there was “overwhelming support from within the Liberal Party”. Mr Abbott ruled out a run for the Senate after he was linked to the vacancy left by NSW senator Jim Molan, who died this week. But while he said on Friday he did not want to speak about the Senate vacancy out of respect for Senator Molan, he added it was unlikely he would return to Parliament via that route. “As much as I’m flattered to bethought of by at least some people in this way, it’s not something that I would count on seeing any time soon, if at all,” Mr Abbott said. “Jim Molan was a wonderful Australian, a very good friend of mine. And the last thing I want to do is to disrespect his memory by speculating over his former Senate position,” he told an Institute of Public Affairs podcast. “The last thing I want to do is be difficult, to make difficulties for Peter Dutton, who’s a friend of mine. I admire him very much and I think he’s doing a good job. “I think the only way an ex-party leader could go back is if there was an overwhelming demand for it.” Former Victorian Liberal Party president and party powerbroker Michael Kroger on Thursday, called for the NSW Liberals to consider Mr Abbott as the best candidate to replace Senator Molan, The Australian reported. Mr Molan’s death has created a five-year Senate vacancy for the Liberal Party in NSW, which has to be filled by a Liberal who will be selected by the full 750-member state council. As the Right faction members debated the calls for Mr Abbott’s return, moderate Liberals raised the prospect of pushing out former Morrison government minister Marise Payne for “renewal” and to create another vacancy. But Senator Payne has reportedly told colleagues she does not intend to retire and is concentrating on helping in the March state election. In Adelaide, Mr Dutton, Federal Opposition Leader, said all the people speculating about Senate vacancies and replacements “need to cool their heels” and pay respect to Senator Molan. “I’ll make further comment on it after the funeral but there is a process to go through and we will go through that,” he said.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott leaves door open on return to Federal politics

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