Tony Abbott has welcomed Malcolm Turnbull's in-principle support for his reform plan to give grassroots Liberal party members more say.
And he warns if the party's state council doesn't tick off on the changes, it won't only be defying a former prime minister but a sitting prime minister as well.
A special meeting over the weekend approved the so-called Warringah motions, which will allow grassroots members to vote in preselections of candidates in federal and state elections.
Mr Abbott praised the work of campaigners and said the victory for people power was a test of the "factional operatives".
"If the state council tries to sabotage this (and) tries to play silly games with what was the overwhelming will of the party membership yesterday they will do our party and our governments ... massive damage," he told Sydney radio 2GB host Ray Hadley on Monday.
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The former prime minister said it was good to talk to Mr Turnbull, who addressed the gathering on Saturday ahead of the vote.
"Now I think we can go forward as a united party on this," he said.
"If the factional operatives try to get in the way they won't just be as it were defying the former prime minister they'll be defying the current one too."
Asked if the victory on Sunday could be seen as a big win for Mr Abbott, Treasurer Scott Morrison said it was a win for everyone.
"You can read it as a win for everyone who thinks that plebiscites are a good idea and that includes Malcolm Turnbull, Tony Abbott, Scott Morrison and a whole range of other members," he told ABC radio.
Mr Morrison specifically talked up the efforts of his good friend, retired army general Jim Molan, who oversaw the former Abbott government's 'stop the boats' policy.
"Jim's been very passionate about this and I think he's drawn a lot of people to the cause," he said.
"And good for Jim."
