Tony Abbott to step down from Advance role when elected Liberal party federal president

Tony Abbott will step down from his role advising the rightwing advocacy group, Advance, as the conservative ideologue prepares for his high-profile role as the Liberal party’s new federal president . Liberal insiders have also shared concerns Abbott is considering Advance’s director, Matthew Sheahan, or Steve Doyle – who runs Whitestone Strategic, the consultancy group that supports its operations – to fill the vacant federal director position, warning it could dismantle what is left of the party’s identity. Since being ousted by the independent MP Zali Steggall at the 2019 federal election, the former prime minister has lent his political nous to a number of rightwing and conservative groups within Australia and around the world. Abbott has sat on Advance’s advisory board since at least January 2023, when the ABC first reported the association . He also holds roles or honorary affiliations with the Institute of Public Affairs and the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, as well as board positions for the Fox Corporation and the UK climate sceptic group the Global Warming Policy Foundation . Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email But his post-parliamentary stint at Advance is expected to end imminently as he formally returns to the party machine in its top “back-office” role as federal president. …