The federal Energy Minister has addressed recent comments from a former prime minister encouraging voters not to dismiss independents.

In a speech to a top US university, Washington Harvard Club, Malcolm Turnbull has sympathised with disaffected Liberals who are considering a vote for so-called teal independents.

When asked about the comments, Angus Taylor told Deborah Knight “Malcolm only became prime minister because of the Liberal Party”.

“I think people, when they leave politics, should be statesmanlike.”

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