‘Things would be a bit raw’: Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos yet to speak to Tony Abbott

Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos has admitted he’s yet to cross paths with ousted former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Mr Sinodinos, who will today be sworn as the cabinet secretary, was one of the key Liberals to back Malcolm Turnbull in the leadership spill.

3AW Mornings host Tony Jones questioned how Senator Sinodinis would be able to create unity in a divided government and why Mr Abbott had lost his support.

‘I felt on the backbench, people weren’t being used, it wasn’t just about me,’ he said.

‘It felt like we weren’t making the best use of everybody, and then when all these problems came to a head earlier this year. the only way to get Tony to address them seemed to be to bring on a spill so he could see it was a serious issue.’

The NSW Senator said he had worked with Mr Abbott for a long time, but expected some tension when he took up his post on the backbench.

‘I think things would be a bit raw,’ he said.

LISTEN: NSW Senator Arthur Sinodinos with Tony Jones