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‘Shut up or quit’: Veteran Lib tells Abbott to end his commentary

Veteran Liberal MP Warren Entsch has called on Tony Abbott to shut up or quit after he again raised issues about how the Turnbull government is performing.

Apr 18, 2017, updated Apr 18, 2017
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. AAP image

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott. AAP image

With the budget just weeks away, Abbott has outlined a five-point plan to re-engage voters and urged the government to scrap new spending and cut deeper in a bid to claw back debt.

Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop expects the former prime minister to have views about policies, but she reminded him cabinet is working its way through budget decisions.

“Tony’s a former prime minister and would understand that any ideas for the budget would need to be tested for their impact and their cost to the budget,” she told ABC radio on Tuesday.

She said Abbott would continue to serve for as long as he and his electorate wished him to.

Just two months after being attacked by senior Coalition figures for criticising the government’s direction, Abbott re-emerged in the public spotlight on Easter Monday with a plan on reconnecting with the electorate.

He warned in an opinion piece for News Corp newspapers and later in an interview with broadcaster Ray Hadley that there’s a feeling in the community that Bill Shorten would win the next election, and outlined how the Coalition could stop that.

Entsch was upset by Abbott’s commentary, and said the former prime minister risked ruining his legacy and going down as a wrecker.

“He was going to step down graciously, he was going to serve in the best interests of the country but he was not going to do a running commentary, he was not going to be critical,” Entsch told the ABC.

“Well it has been anything but that.”

Abbott said on Monday he had every right to speak out, and would appear on Hadley’s high-rating show broadcast on 2GB in Sydney and 4BC in Brisbane every fortnight.

“As a former PM people would expect me to have something to say from time to time on important national and international issues. I certainly intend to continue.”

Abbott’s plan for reconnecting with the electorate

AXE the Human Rights Commission,

CUT renewable energy subsidies to reduce power prices.

REFORM the Senate to end legislative gridlock.

PROTECT existing benefits for employees, but make it easier for future generations to get work.

BE PROUD of Australia.

– AAP

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