A string of Cabinet ministers have come forward in support of dumped prime minister Tony Abbott, saying he has the right to defend his legacy.

Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne said he welcomed Mr Abbott's input following a series of media interviews detailing last month's leadership change.

Mr Pyne, who was promoted from education minister to Industry Minister under new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, said the comments were justified.

He told Channel Nine that he would expect Mr Abbott to do more interviews in the future.

"I don't think he's being unhelpful," Mr Pyne said.

"Primarily he's putting his best foot forward."

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann also defended Mr Abbott, saying he had handled himself "really well".

Senator Cormann told the ABC there was nothing suspicious about the timing of his interviews, saying it was simply coincidence that Mr Abbott was speaking live on air while the current Prime Minister was convening an economic summit in Canberra on Thursday.

"What happened two or so weeks ago was difficult for him," Senator Cormann said.

"I think he's handled himself with a lot of class and distinction, and I think he's earned the right to explain to the Australian people what it is he sought to do as prime minister."

Mr Abbott has said he has more to contribute in public life and will consider his future closer to Christmas.

Cabinet Secretary Arthur Sinodinos told the ABC that Mr Abbott should be encouraged to continue his work in Parliament if he wished to.

"As Janette Howard said to John Howard in 1989, as people said to Malcolm Turnbull in 2010, 'If you still have a contribution, feel you still have a contribution to make to politics, by all means do so'," he said/

Speaking to 3AW's Neil Mitchell on Thursday, Mr Abbott refused to say whether he had forgiven Mr Turnbull for last month's leadership change.

"There's obviously been a lot of dirty water under the bridge," he said.

"I guess in time, all things are more readily understood, more readily accommodated and seen in proper perspective."

Government in 'state of undeclared civil war'

Labor has leapt on Mr Abbott's comments, with Opposition transport spokesman Anthony Albanese describing the Government as being in a "state of undeclared civil war".

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He told Channel Nine that Mr Abbott was obviously angry over the leadership spill.

"[Mr Abbott is] out there defending his legacy and saying very unhelpfully to his colleagues that somehow this isn't a good government," he said.

The Opposition has also targeted the new Prime Minister in recent interviews, with Mr Albanese using Mr Turnbull's penchant for public transport as a policy talking point.

Speaking in Melbourne, he urged Mr Turnbull to return funding cut from public transport spending, highlighting his social media updates on travels.

"One-in-five dollars has been cut from investment in infrastructure," Mr Albanese said.

"It's about time that Malcolm Turnbull got serious about investment in infrastructure. That means investing in public transport, not just riding on it."

Albanese calls for negotiations to end China FTA stand-off

Mr Albanese also urged the Government to be more flexible on negotiations over the China Free Trade Agreement.

He said he was hopeful that an agreement could be reached "with a bit of common sense".

"This certainly can be fixed and it should be fixed as soon as possible," Mr Albanese said.

"We'll see if the Government is prepared to put the national interest first, which it should, instead of playing politics."

The Government is already showing more flexibility in communication with the crossbench, according to a key independent senator.

Senator Glenn Lazarus told the ABC there had been increased consultation from the Government under Mr Turnbull.

Senator Lazarus said it was a departure from the communications model under Mr Abbott.

"Tony didn't seem to want to engage with me or the crossbench," he said.

"As the communications minister, Malcolm was very forthcoming with his time, his door was always open. I'm hoping, and it looks as though, that's the attitude he's taking into his new role as Prime Minister."

Senator Lazarus said he had been "buoyed" by the new leadership, describing the shelving of university deregulation legislation as a personal victory.

"I think, deep down, this is something that will just peter away," he said.

"I just feel as though they've come to their senses."

Education Minister Simon Birmingham confirmed on Thursday that the Government would shelve the controversial plan in this term.

Senator Birmingham said the legislation, taken to Parliament by the former education minister Mr Pyne, would not be reintroduced for a vote before the next election.