Treasurer Scott Morrison has rejected Tony Abbott's criticism of his second budget as merely "background noise".
The former prime minister was recorded at a Liberal Party branch meeting in Victoria on Monday night describing the government's May budget as "second-best" because Senate negotiations had delivered more taxing and spending.
"I expect there will continue to be a bit of background noise here and there but governments don't focus on the background noise," Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.
Mr Abbott, according to a recording obtained by Fairfax Media, told the gathering in the electorate of assistant minister to the treasurer Michael Sukkar that he's speaking out because "we've got to just move the direction a little bit".
"Just at this moment, let me tell you, we're at a bit of a low ebb," he is understood to have said.
According to the report, Mr Abbott told members the first responsibility is to fight so the existing government, cabinet and prime minister are as good as they can be.
Mr Sukkar on Tuesday played down the guest appearance, insisting it was a long-standing and routine invitation.
"It was a good meeting but I don't think it was anything particularly exciting to be honest," he told Sky News.
