Malcolm Turnbull and his senior ministers are walking a fine line on whose record the coalition is using for its re-election campaign.
Tony Abbott insists it's the strong record of his government, citing boat turnbacks, finalising free-trade agreements and a strong national security policy.
The prime minister was more circumspect as he responded to the claim of the man he toppled six months ago.
"The bottom line is there is continuity and there is change," Mr Turnbull told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
He played down criticism there were minimal policy differences between his government and Mr Abbott's.
"There are a lot of things I've done that either he hadn't done or that he wasn't of a mind to do," Mr Turnbull told Radio 3AW.
He reminded Mr Abbott that tough border protection was long-standing coalition policy.
"Whether it is (John) Howard, Abbott or Turnbull we've had the same policy ... it was not something that was invented by Tony Abbott."
Mr Turnbull pointed to media ownership law changes and his innovation strategy as key policy differences between the two governments.
When it was suggested people had started to wonder who he was, Mr Turnbull said: "I've been a public figure for many decades, I don't think anyone has any doubt who I am."
Mr Abbott, speaking from London, said it would be very easy for him to campaign for the re-election of the Turnbull government.
"The Turnbull government is running on the Abbott government's record and it's a very strong record," he told Sky News.
Cabinet minister Michaelia Cash agreed there had been a continuation of policies from one government to the next.
"But we'll also be campaigning on the agenda of the Turnbull government," she told ABC TV.
"If you want a government that is going to ensure we transition in the best possible way to the new economy ... then we all need to be onboard with the Turnbull government."
Cabinet colleague Mathias Cormann said there was a whole range of issues where Mr Turnbull had been putting his own emphasis on things.
He rejected suggestions Mr Abbott was trying to limit the government's options.
"I'm not concerned about any of his public statements," he told ABC radio.
Labor's deputy leader Tanya Plibersek seized on the Abbott comments.
"Malcolm Turnbull, from day one has said one thing and done another," she told ABC TV, citing job cuts at the CSIRO while the prime minister was talking up his innovation focus.
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