Tony Abbott is one of our most divisive former prime ministers. Lauded in conservative political circles, and mocked outside of them.

And now, after he was knifed by his own party as a first-term prime minister, and then lost his political seat, Abbott is back.

Today chief political commentator James Massola discusses Abbott's selection as the new president of the Liberal Party and the risk, and reward, he poses to Opposition leader Angus Taylor.

Background listening:
Tony Abbott's interview on Inside Politics – On running for Senate, AUKUS and cultural ‘self-loathing’.

Tony Abbott is one of our most divisive former prime ministers. Lauded in conservative political circles, and mocked outside of them. And now, after he was knifed by his own party as a first-term prime minister, and then lost his political seat, Abbott is back. Today chief political commentator James Massola discusses Abbott's selection as the new president of the Liberal Party <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/abbott-was-australia-s-best-opposition-leader-but-his-return-to-the-spotlight-could-overshadow-the-new-guy-20260601-p602nf.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-6078">and the risk, and reward, he poses to Opposition leader Angus Taylor</a>. Background listening:
<ul>
<li>Tony Abbott's interview on Inside Politics &ndash; <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/please-explain-1/tony-abbott-on-one-nation-the-liberals-and-cultural-self-loathing">On running for Senate, AUKUS and cultural &lsquo;self-loathing&rsquo;</a>.</li>
</ul>

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

'He's everywhere': Why Tony Abbott is back

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/71be4d92-b76d-45fb-b42f-b45c00710e16/transcript