Give Abbott an election role: Hewson

Tony Abbott is likely to haunt Malcolm Turnbull during an election campaign, so you might as well give him a role, former Liberal leader John Hewson says.

The former prime minister quickly made his presence felt when Mr Turnbull indicated that a double dissolution election was likely on July 2 last week, saying the government would be campaigning on policies that were introduced under his leadership.

"He won't go away, so I think you give him a role. Define the role very carefully and encourage him to be judged by his performance," Dr Hewson told Sky News on Sunday.