Tony Abbott argues Australia has been ‘bullied’ and ‘pushed around’ by China under the Albanese government

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has accused the Albanese government of allowing Australia to be “bullied and pushed around” by China. Mr Abbott made that remark during an interview with his former chief of staff Peta Credlin, who is now a TV host, on Sky News on Tuesday night. Ms Credlin had asked him about the Chinese research vessel, which is believed to double as a spy ship, currently operating off the southern coast of the country. The government has said the ship is being “monitored”. “I mean, surely we’ve got to have a stronger response,” said Ms Credlin. “There’s a couple of problems here Peta. First, we don’t have enough navy ships,” Mr Abbott told her. “And second, there’s got to be more of a tit-for-tat response to these acts of intimidation from Beijing. Why doesn’t our navy do live fire exercises off the coast of China? Why don’t our oceanographic ships do these sorts of things in the South China Sea? “A serious country does not put up with being bullied and pushed around, and unfortunately, we have been bullied and pushed around by Beijing under the current government.” At other points in the interview Mr Abbott was asked about the polls, the Israel-Hamas war, and remarks from his longtime rival and predecessor in the top job, Malcolm Turnbull, who has declined to reveal who he’ll be voting for in this election. “What about the fact he won’t even commit to voting for his former party - or sorry, his current party?” said Ms Credlin. “Peta, no former Liberal prime minister should ever be bashful about who he’s voting for. Simple as that,” Mr Abbott responded. On the polls, Ms Credlin asked Mr Abbott: “If you could send a message to Coalition supporters tonight, and candidates, what would it be?” “Well, just push on,” he said. “There is a cost of living crisis in this country, and Anthony Albanese is to blame, because his government has made it worse. “And as far as I can work out, Peter Dutton has a very simple message. He’ll get more gas into the system. He’ll end the nuclear ban. He’ll make it easier for first homebuyers to get a deposit. He’ll cut immigration hard. “And here’s the beauty: he’s going to gake $14 off the cost of a tank of petrol.” Earlier today, Mr Abbott received a warm welcome from punters in South Australia after visiting two shopping centres and a pub alongside thinktank executive and MP-hopeful Daniel Wild. Mr Abbott, who represented the Sydney seat of Warringah until 2019, shook hands and took photos with shoppers at the Elizabeth and Munno Para shopping centres in Adelaide’s north on Tuesday. The former PM-come-UK government adviser walked through the centres, meeting locals, before going to the Kingsford Hotel with the Spence candidate. Mr Wild is hoping to clinch victory from Labor’s Matt Burnell in the suburban seat. Mr Burnell was elected to the seat of Spence in 2022 with 62 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred system. Despite clinching victory, the Mildura native saw a 7.1 per cent swing against Labor on the primary vote, with the Liberals’ Shawn Lock coming in second with 25 per cent, followed by the Greens. Mr Wild is deputy executive director of the Institute of Public Affairs, a conservative pro-market think tank founded during WWII, with primary responsibility for delivering the IPA’s research programs. The not-for-profit was founded in response to the then-growing popularity of the Labor Party and advocates for privatisation, deregulation and is opposed to large swathes of established climate science. According to the Liberal Party of SA’s website, Mr Wild said the purpose of the organisation was to “fight to maintain the Australian way of life. This is a fight he hopes to continue in our parliament”. “He will advocate for the great Australian values of fairness, freedom, reward for hard work, and he will always stand proudly by our flag … and wants to be a strong voice for the values and aspirations of everyday Australians,” the website continues. According to the party’s website, Mr Wild is also aiming to fight for a raise in the standard of living, cut energy bills, increase investment and “reduce crime locally”. Born in England, Mr Abbott served as Liberal Party leader and prime minister from September 2013 until Malcolm Turnbull took the reins in 2015 after a leadership spill. Mr Abbott lost his Warringah seat to teal MP Zali Steggall in 2019 and was later named as an adviser to the British government’s Board of Trade in 2020. He has remained an outspoken proponent of the Liberal Party.