Former prime minister Tony Abbott doesn’t expect the Liberal Party to ever reverse its decision to vote him out of the top job.

However, he believes what he achieved during his two-year prime ministership will stand the test of time.

“I accept that the party made a decision,” he told Sky News on Thursday.

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“I don’t expect the party to ever go back on that decision.”

The former prime minister says he stuck by his chief of staff and dumped treasurer despite warnings from colleagues because he doesn’t “throw people overboard” to save himself.

Mr Abbott refused to sack Peta Credlin or Joe Hockey – who both also lost their jobs when he was toppled by Malcolm Turnbull last September.

“When you’re working in harmony with people, I think you sink or swim together,” he said.

In a lengthy interview with conservative host Andrew Bolt, Mr Abbott said despite receiving more than 4000 emails and letters after being disposed, his time at the helm was over.

“It’s very gratifying to get them,” he said.

“But political parties don’t go back and the Abbott era has been.”

He vowed instead to be the bearer of Liberal conservative values and helpful where he could to colleagues in the election campaign.

Does @TonyAbbottMHR want to be Prime Minister again? #theboltreport https://t.co/GebmtgKYCi

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 28, 2016

The father-of-three admitted if his future as federal member for Warringah were determined by an Abbott-family democracy, he’d be hanging up his boots at this year’s election.

“If there had been a vote in the Abbott household it would have been one against four.”

The former prime minister also noted Japan was disappointed at missing out on the contract to design Australia’s next fleet of submarines.

But he stressed Australia’s strong relationship with contract winner France, saying the two were working together to combat Islamic State in the Middle East.

While sidestepping questions about the Coalition’s dwindling performances in the polls, he said poll-driven panic had created the revolving door of leaders.

“We’ve had five prime ministers in five years, we sure don’t need six.”

But the now-backbencher admitted when you get rolled by your own party room, not everything is perfect.

Now the bruises had subsided it was time to look in the mirror.

“There were some things where I gave the critics more of an opportunity than I should have.”

-AAP