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Warnings have been sounded by Australia's political opposition that former prime minister Tony Abbot announced he would stay in parliament and re-contest his seat at the nation's next federal election.
Following weeks of speculation, Abbot said over the weekend that he would re-contest his New South Wales state seat of Warringah, located on Sydney's northern beaches, after having consulted with friends, family and colleagues.
"I have been heartened by the support and encouragement I've received to continue to serve the country as a member of parliament," Abbott said on Sunday night.
Abbott has served as the Liberal Party MP for the federal seat of Warringah for 22 years, which he described as a "great honor".
The news was welcomed by his former colleagues and backers who said Abbott still had more to contribute to public life and it was important "experienced" members sit on the parliament's backbench to help the newer, younger members.
Abbott was deposed by incumbent Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in a backroom party coup in September, essentially taking revenge on Abbott who deposed Turnbull while the party was in opposition.
However Australia's political opposition said on Monday that Abbott staying in parliament - after previously saying he would take a break from political life - was only to set the policy agenda and stop Turnbull setting a progressive and reformist approach on key public issues.
"The idea Tony Abbott is staying around in politics to make the odd speech about the Warringah Rotary Club is fanciful," Opposition spokesperson for the treasury Chris Bowen told Australia's national broadcaster.
"It's very clear there is a fundamental war at the heart of the Turnbull government between the prime minister and a very significant number of his troops who don't agree with him on matters of policy."
A backer of Abbott dismissed the claims on Monday, saying the man was not like former PM Kevin Rudd who lost the leadership in a coup to Julia Gillard, only to create government instability and take the leadership back before the 2013 federal election.
Ironically, Rudd was defeated in the 2013 federal election by Abbott who campaigned on the government's instability and the "revolving door" of prime ministers.
"Tony Abbott is absolutely no Kevin Rudd," Liberal senator Eric Abetz insisted, rejecting suggestions Abbott was bitter about being deposed.
"It should not be destabilising for anybody that an elected parliamentarian aged only 58 is deciding to continue in his service to the Australian people."
Australia is due for a national federal election in November, though a date has not yet been set, while local political commentators suggest Turnbull might signal an early election to ride the wave of his popularity against opposition leader Bill Shorten.
