Opposition Leader Tony Abbott would want Liberal MPs to take their job seriously and not entertain any hints that a post in the Parliament would only require half the effort and half the heart.

Alluding to an earlier statement by Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer that he will serve the government and his business empire at the same time if elected to the Federal Parliament, Mr Abbott told reporters on Wednesday in Adelaide that parliamentary work is a full-time calling.

"I would hate to see is any suggestion that being a member of parliament is a part-time job," the Liberal leader was reported by the Australian Associated Press (AAP) as saying.

To begin with, MPs need to embrace and support policies of party in which they belong, Mr Abbott, adding that the readiness to do the hard works should always be around.

"You've got to be prepared to do the hard yards of door-knocking, you've got to be there first thing every morning at the bus stops and the railway stations," Mr Abbott said.

In a reaction, the mining magnate took the comments as Mr Abbott's way of emphasising the importance of being an effective component of the Australian government.

Mr Palmer, however, reminded the Liberal leader that he has had his shares of hard works just in case Mr Abbott had overlooked the facts.

"At last count, I've knocked on more than 3 million doors since 1969 ... I've been out doing the hard yards at the bus stops and door-knocking," noted Mr Palmer, who has initially declared that he would seek Liberal National Party's preselection for a still unspecified seat in Queensland.

He had initially indicated intention to challenge the Lilley seat in Brisbane currently held by Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan but backed out at the last minute.

The move was made following the reported shouting match last month between Mr Abbott and Mr Palmer, with the latter allegedly questioning existing policies of the Liberal Party.

Amidst the issues surrounding his looming run for the Parliament, the miner insisted that his business interests and his reported feud with some Liberal members would not prevent him from becoming a 'fantastic MP'.

On his part, the opposition leader pointed out that LNP's preselection was open to members but they must submit to conditions and policies governing the whole process.

He cited as example the case of Mal Brough, who served with him during the time of former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard and reportedly wants to secure a seat in the Parliament come the next election.

Mr Abbott described the former Howard cabinet member as "a very, very effective minister ... he's a friend of mine and I think he would be a welcome addition to our team in Canberra."

"But in the end, preselections are up to the preselection panel in Queensland and I'm not going to be part of it," the Liberal leader told AAP.