New Liberal Party president Tony Abbott has used his first days in the role to petition young voters on economic policy, as frontbenchers downplay his influence in making the case to voters for the party's policy.
"Our country is in trouble, our economy is stagnant, our society is fragmenting, our security is in peril," Mr Abbott told ABC Radio on Monday.
The comment came after he was elected unopposed to his role on Friday, following a meeting of the Liberal Party's federal council.
"Part of the Australian dream has always been to be able to get ahead and keep most of what you have created for yourself and not have it confiscated by an extortionate government, and that's what Anthony Albanese is now doing," he said.
