Tony Abbott has declared he will run for federal Liberal Party president, revealing his plan to help Opposition Leader Angus Taylor become the next prime minister.
Mr Abbott, who led the country between 2013 and 2015, is set to contend with former foreign minister Alexander Downer for the role – currently held by John Olsen.
The former prime minister told The Australian he was “happy to respond to a credible call to serve the party as president”.
“I want the Liberal Party to be the best version of itself and in any capacity at all will be striving to make Angus Taylor Australia’s 32nd Prime Minister,” he said in a statement to the masthead.
Recent polling showed the Coalition had failed to capitalise on declining support for Labor, while public support for One Nation continued to surge.
Mr Abbott said Australia needed a “rejuvenated Liberal Party to arrest our current decline and restore hope to future generations that our best days are still ahead.”
It is understood Mr Abbott has the support of Mr Taylor, who Liberal sources have said asked the former prime minister to put his hand up for the role, according to the masthead.
The publication earlier revealed Mr Downer would also be running for the position, ahead of a federal conference on May 29.
It comes as the Coalition continued to trail One Nation in this week’s Sky News Pulse poll, which showed the Liberals and Nationals in third place for primary support.
The Coalition polled at 21 per cent, while One Nation dropped three points in primary support to 24 per cent and Labor increased three points to 30 per cent.
The poll, conducted between April 28-May 5, 2026, was the eighth straight Pulse poll in which the Coalition was third.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also maintained a 45-36 lead over Opposition Leader Angus Taylor on preferred prime minister rankings.
Mr Abbott has been vocal about his support for Mr Taylor and his chances to lead the Liberals to victory at the next federal election.
“He’s the right man at the right time, and he can win the election, because he will be a strong alternative to a bad government,” Mr Abbott told Sky News in February after Mr Taylor secured the role of Liberal leader.
“He will show strength to the government, he will show diplomacy to his colleagues, and he will share conviction and energy with the Australian public.”
The next election is due to be held by May 2028, giving the Liberals some 24 months to garner the support required to form a Coalition government.