Tony Abbott Peter Holt
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Tony Abbott to stay on as backbencher
TONY Abbott intends to stay in Federal Parliament, most likely on the backbench, after losing the prime ministership to his longtime rival Malcolm Turnbull.
The ABC understands the former leader does not want to trigger a by-election in his safe Sydney seat of Warringah.
Mr Abbott has not been seen in the House of Representatives since losing the leadership on Monday night.
Instead, he has been busy taking calls from foreign leaders including United States president Barack Obama, New Zealand prime minister John Key and the United Kingdom's David Cameron.
"My intention is to remain in the Parliament," Mr Abbott said.
Read more on the ABC.
