We need to talk about Tony

"There will be no wrecking, no undermining and no sniping." 

These were Tony Abbott's words on September 15, 2015, after he lost the leadership of the Liberal Party to Malcolm Turnbull.

But for just over two years now he has done little else but undermine and snipe at his successor, the result of which has been to shred party cohesion and wreck any clear message.

Mr Abbott appears to have a rather grandiose notion that – as a former prime minister – he stands above the party, and any allegiance he has to it is secondary to his own unique vision and the protection of his legacy.

Read the Sunday Age Editorial: "We need to talk about Tony.”