Advertisement

Abbott: this man (not Turnbull) badly misled you all

Getty

Getty

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has accused Scott Morrison of misleading the public by falsely claiming he warned Abbott of an impending challenge from Turnbull.

In his first interview since being shunted to the backbench, Mr Abbott claimed he was never warned by Morrison.

PM’s favoured poll puts Coalition ahead
Labor’s $4 billion university cash splash
Turnbull snubs official residence

“Not true, not true. Scott never warned anyone,” Mr Abbott told News Corp.

“I spoke to him on Friday [before the spill], not a hint of a warning.

“He certainly never warned me … not a hint of a warning. So I’m afraid Scott badly misled people. I was doing all I could to save the Government, that’s what I was doing.”

This contradicted claims from the new Treasurer, who on radio last week said he had tipped off the prime minister’s office.

The Australian reported on Tuesday that Mr Abbott was receiving contradictory advice from his friends as to whether to stay in Parliament as a backbencher or to retire.

Meanwhile, his successor Malcolm Turnbull has soared in the latest Newspoll, which rated him the most popular PM in more than five years.

Mr Abbott said he was not offered a portfolio in Turnbull’s new ministry.

Advertisement
Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter.
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.