''I've taken the approach that if anybody wants my advice, they can seek it and I'm happy to give it,'' he said.

''I want only one thing. I want a return to Canberra of a Liberal government as soon as possible, and I will work as much as I can in the background to help ... achieve that goal.''

Mr Howard waxed lyrical about Mr Abbott's credentials for the new role, saying he was highly intelligent and energetic.

''His knowledge of policy issues in both the social and economic areas, as well as his background as a minister and also his journalistic experience, will stand him in good stead for the challenging time ahead,'' he said.

''He'll take the fight to Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party and just as I strongly supported Malcolm Turnbull, his predecessor, Tony Abbott will have my goodwill and my very strong support.''

Meanwhile, former Labor prime minister Bob Hawke said Mr Abbott would only be a temporary leader because his views were too far from the mainstream.

Mr Hawke, speaking after the Griffith Asia Institute's annual leader's lecture in Brisbane, said he hoped the Opposition could regroup.

''They were making such a bloody mess of it I hope genuinely, to some extent, they get their act together.''

Asked what kind of leader Mr Abbott would make, Mr Hawke replied in one word: ''temporary''.

''I rather like Tony personally, I get on well with him [but] I find it difficult to believe that he will be the leader for any long period of time,'' he said.

''I don't think his values are really very mainstream and I don't think you can have someone whose values are too far away from mainstream being an effective leader. AAP