ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE - In this Sept. 19, 2014 file photo, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks during a press conference, in Sydney. Beleaguered Prime Minister Abbott will face a second challenge to his position this year, with a ballot of government colleagues late Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, hours after a senior minister challenged him for his party leadership. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)

CANBERRA -- Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has labelled the Safe Schools Coalition LGBTI framework a "social engineering program" and called for its funding to be cut, despite his government launching the program with some very kind words in 2014. Speaking to The Australian newspaper, Abbott -- who, despite his promises to refrain from "sniping" at the Turnbull government, has been a regular political critic for and contributor to media pages as of late -- voiced his concerns at the program. The funding for Safe Schools, which aims to educate students about LGBT issues and promote an anti-bullying message, is under review after a campaign by conservative politicians and lobby groups. "It’s not an anti-bullying program," Abbott told The Australian. "It’s a social engineering program. Its funding should be terminated." Abbott's comments seem jarring, as Safe Schools was launched under his administration in June 2014. A prominent government senator even officially unveiled the program. Here's the list of guests for the launch event, according to the Safe Schools website:

Scott Ryan, now Minister for Vocational Education and Skills in the Turnbull administration, had some very kind words to say when he gave the opening address to mark the official launch of the program on June 13, 2014. "It is simply the right thing to do," he said, according to a speech transcript on his website. "Every student has a right to feel safe at school."