'Cut through'

The possible ambition may help explain why Mr Abbott, who has previously expressed a desire to be a minister again, continues to critique the policies and decisions of the Turnbull government, which on Monday trailed the Labor opposition for the 29th consecutive Newspoll.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull cited 30 losing Newspolls when he removed Mr Abbott as leader in 2013. The next Newspoll is seen as a major symbolic moment for Mr Turnbull and his relatively unpopular government.

Mr Abbott described the suggestion he wants to be opposition leader again as "joke journalism". "A story that's not backed by a single on-the-record quote except from someone who said the story was untrue," he wrote on Twitter.

One of Mr Abbott's main arguments in private is that he is an effective political communicator who can "cut through" to distracted voters in a way no or few senior Liberal MPs can.

Minister for Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg is speculated as a candidate for Liberal leader if the government loses power. Alex Ellinghausen

"If we want to win the next election we have got to do two things: we have got to give voters something to hope for and we have to give our people something to fight for," he told a group of Young Liberals recently.

Depleted leadership field


While polls show Mr Abbott lacks Mr Turnbull's support among Liberal voters, in opposition he might have to compete with a depleted field to become leader again.

Two of the top likely candidates, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Attorney-General Christian Porter, hold marginal seats that could be lost in a big Labor victory.

It is unclear if Foreign Minister Julie Bishop would want the job. That could put Mr Abbott in a contest with two men he has been politically allied with: Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg from Victoria and Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Angus Taylor from NSW.

Although he isn't in cabinet, Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Minister Angus Taylor, right, is a possible contender for the Liberal leadership. Rohan Thomson

Mr Turnbull has said he won't stay in politics in opposition.

Conservative support

Despite a perception he has undermined the Turnbull government, some conservatives still support Mr Abbott, who is currently campaigning for lower immigration and fewer subsidies for renewable energy, policies that attract elements of the left and right.

"When (not if, if Turnbull continues as its leader) the Coalition loses office, it would indeed be a good thing were it then to turn to Abbott," former senator John Stone said in an email.


"Although why, apart from his strong sense of duty, he would be willing to take the job then passes understanding."

Tony Abbott, the only former prime minister in Parliament, has complained to conservative journalists about their coverage.

Mr Abbott's personal web page emphasises his personal, six-point manifesto that he says would help win the election: reform the Senate, reduce spending, end power subsidies, cut immigration, improve public safety and reduce the power of the Human Rights Commission and similar bodies. There are no Liberal Party logos.

In addition to regular interviews on talk-back radio, Mr Abbott is active behind the scenes lobbying senior newspaper editors and journalists.

In particular, he has complained to two influential right-wing writers about their criticism of him, Miranda Devine from the Daily Telegraph and Janet Albrechtsen from The Australian, according to three sources.

Not enough time

The former leader has said privately that he felt conservative columnists unfairly abandoned him. In response to criticism that he raised taxes, did nothing to improve freedom of speech or deregulate the workplace when he was prime minister, Mr Abbott has told conservative critics they expected him to do too much in a short time.

Senior political comebacks are rare but not unheard of. Kevin Rudd returned as prime minister three years after being removed by his own party. John Howard returned as opposition leader six years after being removed in 1989.

No opposition leader elected immediately after his or her party was removed from power has led the party back into office in the modern era. Bill Shorten may be the first politician to achieve this feat.