Tony Abbott's former chief of staff Peta Credlin has rubbished claims her old boss wants his job back, labelling deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce's comments "horse s--t".

The Nationals leader, a political ally of Mr Abbott, on Tuesday said he believed the former PM still harboured leadership ambitions but would realise a comeback wasn't possible.

"He will want to, but he'll realise he can't," Mr Joyce told AAP. "To say that he doesn't have a desire is ridiculous - to say that he can't overcome that desire by the reality that's just not going to happen [is another]."

Spain ‘betrays NATO allies’ hosting Russian warships – oh, really?

Malcolm Turnbull has taken Bill Shorten to task after the Labor leader accused US presidential hopeful Donald Trump of being "barking mad".

Whistleblower Edward Snowden wants Australians to care more about protecting their privacy, describing it as “the right to individuality.”