John Howard's message for squabbling Liberals is to stop obsessing about factions and focus on what unites the party, not what divides it.
The elder statesman of the Liberal party, who won four federal elections as leader, says focusing on differences wasn't productive.
"I don't think a single person in my cabinet you could say was a total conservative or totally small-l liberal," he said at a National Archives of Australia event in Canberra on Tuesday.
"I am a classical liberal on economic policy. I am a classical liberal in being totally opposed to a bill of rights.
"I am a conservative in the sense that I don't believe in discarding institutions that I believe have served the test of time.
"Everyone knows I am a constitutional monarchist. I have a conservative view on same-sex marriage. That has been resolved. I accept the outcome."
Mr Howard said the Liberal party's "broad church" took support from libertarians and conservatives, but it wasn't that simple.
"In most instances, everyone in my party is a combination of classical liberalism and conservatism," he said.
The Liberal party has been split with debates about its future, after conservatives dumped Malcolm Turnbull from the prime ministership, his seat went independent, and the Victorian Liberals were thumped in a state election.
Mr Howard said the party must maintain its fundamentals.
"We don't want to obsess about differences we have on particular issues. They'll always be there," he told AAP.
"Providing there is understanding, give and take, we can remain a very effective broad church. There are so many things that we all have in common."
Mr Howard, who spent 11 years as prime minister of Australia, listed free speech, individualism, small business, strong borders, and sensible economic policies as values all Liberals share.
But he said the party should push back against accusations it is "far right".
"What's far right about having a conservative position on a social issue? It's not far right. It's conservative," he said.
