Former prime minister Tony Abbott believes Malcolm Turnbull should stick to holding the election towards the end of this year.
Mr Abbott made the comment while renewing his push for a registered organisations commission and the re-establishment of the construction watchdog in light of the findings of the trade unions royal commission.
"Swift passage of the 'clean unions' legislation should mean an election at the usual time towards the end of the year as the prime minister has promised," he writes in The Australian on Wednesday.
"Of course, that would also give both sides of the parliament time to work out the credible budget repair strategy on which meaningful tax reform and long-term prosperity almost entirely depends."
Mr Abbott writes the Heydon royal commission's final report last week shows the need for better union governance and a "tough cop on the beat of the construction industry" is clearer than ever.
Mr Turnbull has said legislation to establish a registered organisations commission will be reintroduced when parliament resumes.
It will be followed by a new push to pass the re-establishment of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, which was voted down in August.
"Like an ex-smoker or reformed drinker, (Bill) Shorten could finally see the error of his ways and purport to lead the charge against the rorts and rip-offs he knows only too well," Mr Abbott said, calling on Labor to back the changes.
"It may be the only way to avoid a double-dissolution election that would almost certainly doom his leadership."
Mr Turnbull has said the government is willing to fight an election on the issue.
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