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'
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.
