Cut immigration to ease prices: Abbott

The Turnbull government can take the pressure off home and power prices if it cuts immigration and stops pandering to climate change theology, Tony Abbott has said.

Speaking at a book launch in Sydney on Thursday night, the former prime minister said it was "easy to see why" the major parties lost votes in last year's election.

His ideas for winning back votes before the next election include scaling back immigration to ease housing prices, axing funding to the Human Rights Commission to "stop official bullying", and cutting the renewable energy target to help with power bills.

"Our challenge is to be worth voting for," Mr Abbott said.

"In or out of government, political parties need a purpose. Our politics can't be just a contest of toxic egos or someone's vanity project."

During his speech, Mr Abbott also recommended the government consider taking senate reform to the next election.

"The Senate sabotage of the 2014 budget was blamed on poor salesmanship, but my successor's difficulties with far less sweeping measures show that the problem is less the salesman than the system."