Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Tony Abbott is entitled to address whoever he wishes and isn't going to be censored.
The former Liberal leader will this week speak at a function in New York run by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian lobby group that opposes homosexuality and abortion.
"He does have fairly a conservative position on issues like that, so he probably would find he's talking to people with similar views, perhaps," Mr Turnbull told Network Ten's The Project on Tuesday.
"He is entitled to speak to such audiences as he wishes.
"There are people in the parliament, colleagues, fellow members of the coalition, who have different views and they are entitled to express them - and I respect their right to do so, just as they would respect my right to disagree with them."
He also wished Mr Abbott "all the best" after announcing on Sunday he will renominate for the seat of Warringah at the next election.
Mr Turnbull is the first coalition prime minister to appear of the program.
