Former prime minister Tony Abbott has opened up about how he feels about his political career.

Mr Abbott was ousted from his seat of Warringah in the federal election in May by independent MP Zali Steggall.

Tonight he will be honoured for his service at a tribute dinner, with Alan Jones hosting and more than 1000 guests attending.

He tells Ben Fordham he still looks back on his political career very fondly.

“Most public lives end in ways that people wouldn’t choose. You lose elections, you lose seats, parties decide they want someone else as leader.

“But that doesn’t mean that they don’t have a purpose and it doesn’t mean that, when the dust is settled, they aren’t absolutely worthwhile.

“I was certainly a pretty good leader of the opposition. I guess the jury is still out on my time as prime minister. But I would like to think the longer this government lasts the better it looks.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview