Tony Abbott is likely to haunt Malcolm Turnbull during an election campaign, so you might as well give him a role, former Liberal leader John Hewson says.
The former prime minister quickly made his presence felt when Mr Turnbull indicated that a double dissolution election was likely on July 2 last week, saying the government would be campaigning on policies that were introduced under his leadership.
"He won't go away, so I think you give him a role. Define the role very carefully and encourage him to be judged by his performance," Dr Hewson told Sky News on Sunday.
Strategy 'high risk'
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Dr Hewson said he was surprised that Malcolm Turnbull's strategy to force a July 2 double dissolution had been regarded as a stroke of genius, saying it is quite high risk.
He said if the Senate unexpectedly supports the re-introduction of construction watchdog - when a second rejection is required as a trigger for a July 2 poll - it would delay an election to September or October.
"In the interim he has got to deal with issues like (Arthur) Sinodinos, (Tony) Abbott, backbench issues and a budget that has been neutered as a pre-election budget rather than a reform budget," Dr Hewson told Sky News.
