Malcolm Turnbull has taken a fresh swipe at Tony Abbott, saying it was time for builders "not wreckers" and declaring himself sick of politics and personalities.
Following a week of Liberal in-fighting, the prime minister on Saturday used the one-year anniversary of his election to highlight his successes as leader.
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He said the government had achieved real-time results in the past 12 months - not just headlines or announcements.
"They're not theories, or thought bubbles, or glib one liners," he wrote in a column for News Corp.
Mr Abbott, in a speech this week, questioned the Turnbull government's credibility on global security and its decision to put job creation ahead of having the most effective armed forces.
In an earlier speech, he said he was in no hurry to leave public life because Australia needed strong, Liberal, conservative voices more than ever.
He was out again on Saturday, speaking at a forum in Sydney about the need to fight growing factionalism in the NSW Liberals.
"It all starts with respect," the former prime minister said.
"We have a prime minister - maximum respect - but respect is a two-way street ... and it's time the party's hierarchy showed the respect to the membership that the membership has always given to them."
Mr Turnbull, having batted away questions about his predecessor all week, said voters were sick of politics and personalities.
"Frankly, so am I," he said.
"This is a time for builders, not wreckers. For leaders who get things done and don't just talk. For negotiators and deal-makers who trade in results, not in platitudes."
On energy, Mr Turnbull said his government was guided by engineering and economics - not ideology and politics.
"That's the old way, and it has failed. Australians want clear-eyed, hard-headed, well-thought-out leadership.
"My clear message to politicians and journalists alike, is don't focus on yourselves. Focus on the people who elected us."
Mr Turnbull said he was more determined than ever to govern for all 24 million Australians as he enters the second year of this parliamentary term.
Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten said civil war has been the biggest issue for the Liberal party since the July 2 election.
"Tomorrow Manny Pacquiao is taking on Jeff Horn, so for a couple of hours that will be the biggest fight in the nation. But once that's over, it'll be back to Abbott v Turnbull - and that fight never seems to end," he told reporters in Tasmania.
Australians were sick and tired of it and want someone to stand up for penalty rates and jobs, he said.
"This government's too distracted fighting itself to worry about the needs of everyday Australians."
