Former prime minister Tony Abbott has given his coalition colleagues a political headache less than a week out from the federal budget.
Asked if he had any pre-budget advice for Malcolm Turnbull and his Treasurer Scott Morrison, Mr Abbott argued Australia must live within its means.
"The last budget that seriously attempted to get our country to live within its means was the 2014 budget," he told 2GB radio on Wednesday afternoon.
"Had that budget not been sabotaged in the Senate, much would have been so much different and better."
Mr Abbott bemoaned coalition premiers who "went to water" over health and education cuts, as well as senators who were "bolshie" on just about everything contained in his 2014 budget.
"And eventually some of my own colleagues decided that it was all too hard," he said.
Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne rubbished his former leader's claims.
"Well of course we're living within our means - that's what the budget each year shows - how we have a path back to surplus, how we're paying off debt and deficit," Mr Pyne told ABC radio on Wednesday evening.
"We are living within our means, we continue to do so."
