United Turnbull govt can survive: Howard

Former prime minister John Howard says there's no reason the Turnbull one-seat majority government can't survive in the same way the Menzies government did.

Former prime minister John Howard believes if the Turnbull government is disciplined and united it can survive, despite holding a one-seat majority.

Asked to compare the current government to the one-seat majority government under Sir Robert Menzies, Mr Howard pointed out the latter's greatest asset was the coalition was "superbly disciplined behind an understandable, well-articulated agenda".

"There is no reason why the government, the current government can't survive three years," he told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.