Tony Abbott says it was Malcolm Turnbull's ambition and not a divided government that led to him being ousted as prime minister, as he revealed he would consider a return to parliament.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"It wasn't that we had a divided government, it was more that there was one person who was determined to get to the top by hook or by crook," Mr Abbott told The Australian.
"Malcolm always thought it was his destiny to be prime minister and I happened to be the obstacle to that and so he dealt with me as best he could."
Mr Turnbull toppled Mr Abbott in a leadership spill in 2015.
Mr Abbott returned to the backbench but lost his Sydney seat of Warringah at the May election.
He said he had mostly forgiven those who turned on him and would consider a return to parliament, though admitted that was unlikely.
"If the Liberal Party ever wanted me to do that, I would be more than happy to consider it, but I find it difficult to imagine the circumstances that they would want me," he said.
"I'm not ruling it out but I'm not expecting it to happen."
Last week it was revealed Mr Abbott was joining the board of the Australian War Memorial in his first official appointment since leaving politics.
Australian Associated Press
