Former prime minister Kevin Rudd says Malcolm Turnbull has to deal with the nutjobs of his party's "lunar right" while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has to cope with union thugs.
Mr Rudd said it had to be acknowledged that Mr Turnbull had enjoyed a good start but faced some challenges.
"He has got to deal with the lunar right of his party and there are some serious nutjobs there. We all know that," he told Network Ten's The Project program.
"Just as when I was prime minister and Bill (Shorten) today has got to deal with a whole bunch of factional thugs from certain trade unions who make life difficult for you."
Mr Rudd said he didn't call up ousted PM Tony Abbott, although he did sympathise with his sudden demise.
"You do feel for people under those circumstances. But as we know it's a rough and tumble business," he said.
Mr Rudd said he had spent the past year in the US.
"I am maintaining this 12,000 mile principle which is while I am out of politics I should be out of sight as well," he said.
Mr Rudd said Australia had broad enough shoulders to cop criticism, as had come in the UN Human Rights Council performance review which was highly critical of asylum seeker policies.
He said there was a time some years ago when Australia would have refused access to the UN officials.
Mr Rudd said he did not support mandatory detention of asylum seekers, including of children.
However, offshore processing was the only rational approach, given Australia's geography.
"But when a boat comes to Australia you should not be in the business of turning it back," he said.
