Cabinet stronger after reshuffle: Abbott

Former prime minister Tony Abbott says the latest ministerial reshuffle has delivered a stronger cabinet but he realises he remains "the last person" Malcolm Turnbull wants in his line-up.

The new-look cabinet is an improvement on the whole, Mr Abbott believes.

"I think it's a stronger cabinet today than it was a week ago," he told 2GB radio on Wednesday.

Mr Abbott said the ministry's make-up was solely the prime minister's decision.

"He's made it pretty obvious since the election that I'm the last person he wants to see there," Mr Abbott said.

Earlier Mr Turnbull was on the same station defending his decision to leave Mr Abbott on the backbench.

The prime minister said reshuffles were an opportunity to promote new and emerging talent to the front bench.

"This is about the government and getting the right team that'll work together and I'm not going into a debate about any particular individual," he told 2GB.