SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday slapped down his predecessor Tony Abbott who dramatically intervened to claim credit for policies the government is taking to upcoming elections.

Abbott, who was ousted last September in a party coup, announced the government was running on his record, in extraordinary comments reminiscent of the political anarchy that has produced five leaders in five years.

“It’s very easy for me to campaign... because the Turnbull government is running on the Abbott government’s record,” he told Sky News late Monday.

“It’s a very strong record,” he said, citing the hard-line immigration policy that deterred the flow of asylum seeker boats, and a string of free trade agreements.

Abbott remains in parliament but had pledged not to interfere after Turnbull’s takeover, promising on his departure there would be “no wrecking, no undermining, no sniping.”

However, he has continued to intervene, to the delight of a hard core of right-wing lawmakers who reputedly still entertain the thought of returning him to the top job.

Turnbull, who has lambasted Abbott’s economic management, hit back Friday against the putdown which could spell trouble ahead of general elections which he has said could come as soon as July.

“He’s not right,” the prime minister said of his predecessor. “The bottom line is there is continuity and there is change.”