The Honourable Tony Abbott has issued an urgent press release to inform Australians everywhere that he has accepted a new title, bestowed by his own esteemed self, as Prime Minister at Large.

Mr Abbott, a former journalist, said there was ample precedent for such a title.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott is just doing his bit. Credit:Andrew Meares

Former editors of newspapers who have returned from a toilet break only to discover their desk, telephone, secretary and computer terminal have unaccountably disappeared have on occasion been able to wrangle the marvellous title Editor at Large from their employers, he pointed out.

Such a title had traditionally entitled them to write long and often anguished columns and to recount tales of the golden age at longer lunches at the company expense, sometimes for years.