Liberal MP Michael Sukkar has defended allowing Tony Abbott to speak to his Liberal Party branch at a private event in Melbourne.
Mr Sukkar is a member of the Turnbull Government’s executive but said it was “wholly appropriate” for Mr Abbott to attend, even after a week of nearly daily media appearances in which the former Prime Minster has criticised his successors policy direction.
“It’s very routine for us to get guest speakers in speak to our branches and this was a long standing commitment of Tony’s to visit and speak to my electorate,” Mr Sukkar told Sky News.
“My view on these things is once you make a commitment you follow through and we had a very good meeting and I would never want to disappoint my branch members once we’ve got something locked away in the diary.”
The Assistant Minister to the Treasurer said it was all about “engaging the membership” of the Liberal Party in a way to keep them “active”.
“I have many guest speakers visit and I wouldn’t cancel any guest speaker based on the headlines in the media that day,” Mr Sukkar added.
Tony Abbott has been on a media blitz this past week, and recently claimed the NSW division of the Liberal Party is "haemorrhaging members".
Nationals senator John Williams this morning entered the fray to remind the Liberal Party that “division is death”.
“That is very frustrating, it is very annoying and I’m just fed up with it,” he told ABC radio.
A poll has found nearly half of all voters believe the former Prime Minister should resign from parliament.
The survey, conducted online from 29 June to 3 July, found 43 per cent of voters wanted him to quit politics. Only only 18 per cent believed he should stay in office and be given a place in the Turnbull ministry.
Mr Abbott was dumped as Prime Minister in September 2015 with Malcolm Turnbull citing the government's loss of 30 consecutive Newspolls.
