Former attorney-general Nicola Roxon has launched a scathing critique of the Rudd years, slamming former prime minister Kevin Rudd as a "bastard" who was a rude and dysfunctional leader and calling on him to quit politics.

"Removing Kevin was an act of political bastardry for sure. But this act of political bastardry was made possible only because Kevin had been such a bastard himself to so many people already," she said on Wednesday evening.

"We left everyone looking for other answers and by doing this we did a great disservice to both Kevin and Julia."