Mr Howard was speaking in Brisbane at a function to celebrate his life in politics.

He spoke of his pride in the achievements of the Coalition government in his 11 years as prime minister.

Mr Howard says he will do everything he can to help the party win government again.

"It's a party of enormous depth and resilience," he said.

"It has a great future. It's had a great past, but very importantly it has a great future."

Sympathising with the party's current leader Brendan Nelson on the difficulties of Opposition, Mr Howard said he remembered other hard times for the Liberal Party.

"Just as we came through those difficult years long ago, we'll come through those difficult years again."

Mr Howard defended the economic record of his government and criticised Labor for not supporting the Coalition's economic reforms.

He says Labor is talking down the economy internally, while boasting of its strength when overseas.

He also says the Labor Party cannot take any credit for Australia's economic prosperity over the past decade.

"Almost every single measure that we undertook in Government - either in any of Peter Costello's 12 budgets or other measures that we undertook that was designed to reduce debt or strengthen the Australian economy - was opposed root and branch by Mr Rudd and his colleagues," he said.

He offered his support to Opposition members and told those gathered he had been lucky to be involved with the Liberal Party.

"It's been my good fortune to have had your support and your loyalty and your friendship over so many years, and I shall remember it for the rest of my life."

Six hundred people attended the Liberal Party fundraiser, including current federal Liberal leader Brendan Nelson and other state and federal MPs.

Tickets sold for $150 a head for party members and $250 for non-members.

The speech is Mr Howard's first public appearance in Australia since his November election defeat.

-abc.net.au