Former prime minister Tony Abbott has accused new Treasurer Scott Morrison of misleading people about his role in Malcolm Turnbull's leadership takeover.

Key points: Morrison "never warned me" about spill, Abbott says

Morrison "never warned me" about spill, Abbott says Abbott praises Hockey, "soundness" of economic stewardship

Abbott praises Hockey, "soundness" of economic stewardship Morrison promoted to Treasurer by Turnbull

In an interview with Sydney's Daily Telegraph, recorded while he was surfing at North Steyne beach, Mr Abbott hit out at Mr Morrison's version of events leading up to the coup, including the new Treasurer's claim that he had tried to warn Mr Abbott's office that a challenge was imminent on the Friday before the spill.

"Scott never warned, never warned anyone, certainly never warned me," Mr Abbott said.

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

"So, I'm afraid Scott badly misled people. He badly misled people. I was doing all I could to save the Government, that's what I was doing."

Today Mr Abbott also denied Mr Morrison's claim that he had offered him the treasury portfolio in the run-up to last Monday's leadership spill.

"Not true, not true," he told the Telegraph.

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Mr Morrison voted for Mr Abbott in the leadership spill last week but did not seek to convince any of his colleagues to put their support behind him.

He was promoted from Social Services Minister to Treasurer by Mr Turnbull, with both men declaring no deal was done prior to the leadership ballot.

Meanwhile a Newspoll shows the Coalition now has an election-winning lead over Labor, 51 per cent to 49 per cent, after preferences.

It is an increase of five points on the previous fortnight and is the Government's best result since April 2014, before it delivered its first federal budget.

Last week, as Mr Abbott conceded his leadership loss, he made a number of commitments about how he planned to behave going forward.

"Leadership changes are never easy for our country," he told reporters.

"My pledge today is to make this change as easy as I can. There will be no wrecking, no undermining, and no sniping."

'I've had a few snakes and I've had a few ladders'

The former PM told the Daily Telegraph he was still considering his future and had not decided whether he would contest the next election.

"It was lovely to get out and have a surf... I'm looking forward to spending a bit more time in the electorate," he said.

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"I think the important thing at the moment is just to unwind, and have a think. There'll be more to say about that in the not-too-distant future."

Mr Abbott praised his former treasurer, Joe Hockey, who has declared his intention to leave politics altogether.

"Joe will be judged much more kindly in the months and years ahead than he was when he was actually doing the job," Mr Abbott said.

"The fact that no policy settings have been changed testifies to the soundness of what the Government was doing, the soundness of Joe's stewardship of the economy."

Mr Abbott would not say whether he had been willing to serve under Mr Turnbull as a minister, saying there had not been an offer so the idea was a "hypothetical".

But he did reflect on what he described as a "tough week".

"Politics is a game of snakes and ladders and I've had a few snakes and I've had a few ladders," he said.

"When you join the game, you play by the rules, and we saw the rules in action this week."

Mr Abbott said he had not looked at the details of Mr Turnbull's ministerial reshuffle, but wished the new team well.

"There's a lot of outstanding people in the party room and I'm sure the new guys and girls will do their best and make the most of it," he said.