Former Labor prime minister Bob Hawke has told a Queensland crowd he would have one piece of advice for current PM Malcolm Turnbull – resign.

Mr Hawke, a nine-year veteran of the Woodford Folk Festival in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, also told festival-goers he thought Mr Turnbull was “ashamed” about giving up his principles for a shot at the Liberal leadership.

Bob Hawke told the Woodford Crowd Malcolm Turnbull was 'ashamed' about abandoning his principles. Credit:Woodford Folk Festival

When asked whether he would offer Mr Turnbull advice, 88-year-old Mr Hawke said he would tell the PM to give the game away.

“I have a theory that Malcolm is basically ashamed, by that I mean Malcolm had to give up certain issues that he believed in to get the numbers to roll (former prime minister) Tony Abbott,” Mr Hawke said.