Mr Abbott urged the public to avoid a “glass half empty” mentality during an interview with 2GB’s Ray Hadley, who downgraded his opinion of the government to a D minus.
Mr Abbott faced criticism over his handling of the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook, which was launched in the wake of the deadly siege in Sydney.
He conceded there had been complaints over his call to continue with the review’s launch, but stood by his timing and his government’s budget.
“Maybe our communications could have been more effective, maybe at times when we were preparing the Budget we should have been also communicating the strategy as well,” he said.
“I am happy to accept that various things could have been done better but my message to the Australian people is that we inherited a mess, we have made a good start.”
The budget review outlined a deficit forecast of $40.4 billion, as well as the abolishment of 138 government bodies.
Describing the budget measures as “imminently justifiable”, Mr Abbott urged voters to ignore criticism.
“I guess my appeal to people is: try to ignore the critical chatter and look as objectively as you can at what this Government is trying to do and ask yourself what is the alternative,” he said.
“I am absolutely convinced in my deepest heart this is the right path forward for Australia.”
Abbott stands by sexism claim
Mr Abbott also defended his comments blaming sexism for criticism of his chief of staff, Peta Credlin.
Less than a week after his comments - “Do you really think my chief of staff would be under this kind of criticism if her name was P-E-T-E-R, as opposed to P-E-T-A” – Mr Abbott described them as a fair call.
“I stand by my team,” he said.
“I take responsibility for my office, and I don’t say that every single thing that every last person does is absolutely always perfect. We are all human.
“But this is a good team and it is working night and day.”
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