Tony Abbott’s return to national politics is a threat and opportunity for Liberal leader Angus Taylor

Tony Abbott has returned to the Liberal Party hierarchy with the force of perhaps the greatest conservative communicator in contemporary politics.

Most Liberal presidents have such a low profile even party members don’t know who holds the position. They are typically back-room operators, settling internal disputes, monitoring the federal director’s performance and replacing wayward candidates.

Not Mr Abbott, the prime minister from 2013 to 2015, who has decided to use his new position as party president to re-enter the national political debate.

On Tuesday, he proposed a vote-preferencing arrangement with One Nation similar to the Greens-Labor quasi-alliance that allowed Anthony Albanese to win the last election with 35 per cent of the vote.

For an Opposition running third, a deal with a newly popular One Nation party could help the Coalition save the clutch of seats it retained last year. As Mr Abbott pointed out to a Nine newspaper, why shouldn’t parties of the right do what the left does?

“We certainly won’t win the next election as slaves to focus groups and being a little bit less woke than Labor,” he told party members in a group email.

Mr Abbott intends to embark on a listening tour of party members, meetings that will likely be heavily attended. Through regular appearances on Sky News, often with his formidable ex-chief-of-staff, Peta Credlin, and his recent history of Australia book, which is a publishing phenomenon, Mr Abbott has rebuilt his popularity as a public figure, which reached its nadir when he was removed from office by nemesis Malcolm Turnbull.

Unfortunately for Liberal leader Angus Taylor, the more fans Mr Abbott attracts, the more complicated his job becomes. There is a finite amount of coverage available for political leaders out of office, and Mr Abbott’s succinct, deliberate verbal delivery is more effective on television and radio.

Mr Taylor can only campaign on policies agreed by his colleagues. Mr Abbott has more latitude to pursue causes that appeal to his natural supporters.

Two weeks ago he texted Anthony Albanese on behalf of the parents of Victoria Cross awardee Cameron Baird, a commando killed in 2013 assaulting a Taliban compound in Afghanistan.

Mr Abbott asked the Prime Minister in the text, which he followed up with a letter, to reconsider the withdrawal of funding for Doug and Kaye Baird to attend veterans’ events. The decision was reversed, a victory Mr Abbott and Ms Credlin celebrated in a short video for social media.

Even though the Opposition supported the Bairds, it might have been difficult for Mr Taylor to request a favour from the Prime Minister given he referred to Mr Albanese as an “arrogant prick” during question time two weeks ago.

An association

As for swapping votes, many Australians disillusioned with the mainstream parties will see it as a recognition of the power of Senator Pauline Hanson and One Nation, which beat the other parties in two polls over the past week.

The Coalition’s frequently stated position is that it does not intend to enter an alliance with One Nation. While that was not Mr Abbott’s proposal, a preferences deal would create the impression of cooperation between One Nation and the Coalition.

In most Coalition seats, that would not matter. In inner-city electorates dominated by wealthy voters, including Mr Abbott’s former seat of Warringah, the association could be more problematic.

One Nation is a party of country, regional and outer-suburban Australia, competing primarily against the Nationals. The Liberals’ centre of gravity is in cities, which they are trying win back through urban representatives like Tim Wilson, the shadow treasurer.

The Government, dominant in Parliament but polling poorly, is already using Mr Abbott’s suggestion against Mr Taylor, who has been in job only four months. Mr Albanese argued today the Coalition and One Nation would become “indistinguishable”.

Under Mr Taylor’s leadership they are converging on immigration, climate change policy and welfare policies. But the Coalition retains its roots in the centre-right, rejecting many of One Nation’s populist policies.

Which is why Mr Abbott’s return as an influential political figure is an opportunity and a threat for Mr Taylor. The former leader is too compelling to ignore for many Liberal and One Nation voters.