Mr Abbott, who three years ago began the election as Opposition Leader at the centre of a massive travelling media pack, cut a lonely figure at Manly ferry wharf, greeting voters in the rain with just a handful of Liberal Party volunteers.

In social media posts, Mr Abbott wrote: "It's good to be at Manly Wharf on day 1 of the Federal Election campaign".

The photos, widely shared and liked by Mr Abbott's followers, attracted both supportive and derisive comments on Facebook and Instagram.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016/election-2016-former-prime-minister-tony-abbott-cuts-a-lonely-figure-on-campaign-day-one-20160508-gopj32.html