(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
Prime Minister Tony Abbott is refusing to call a spill for the leadership of the Liberal Party despite backbench discontent.
Some estimates suggest as many as 30 Liberal MPs support the idea of a challenge in order to resolve the issue, with three backbenchers publicly calling for a spill.
As Amanda Cavill reports the instability is causing rumours to run wild.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Tony Abbott has dismissed the backbench calls for a leadership spill as the sign of a robust Liberal Party room.
Next Tuesday's party room meeting could see the prime minister facing a challenge after three of his MPs publicly broke ranks to disavow their leader.
West Australian backbencher Dennis Jensen has told Mr Abbott he no longer has his support, while Queenslanders Warren Entsch and Mal Brough say they want the leadership issue resolved.
Mr Abbott told Macquarie Radio he understands why some MPs are nervous in the wake of the devastating performance of the Liberal National Party in the Queensland election.
But has warned against repeating the turmoil of previous Labor governments.
"We have always had a robust party room, Ray, and I hope that will always continue and I've had members of Parliament stand up and tell me to my face in the party room over the year s that I've got this wrong, I've got that wrong, I'm this, I'm that, I'm a so and so, And look, that is their democratic right. What I think everyone in the party room understands is that the last thing we should do is go anywhere near reproducing the rabble of the Labor years."
The Prime Minister has been under fire since the Queensland election and his decision to knight Prince Phillip.
There are some reports that at least a third of the party room want Mr Abbott dumped as leader.
However, touted potential contenders for the leadership - Julie Bishop, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison - have all indicated publicly they don't want to challenge.
As an example of how jumpy people are over the issue, the twittersphere ran wild for an hour with the rumour that Malcolm Turnbull was calling supporters.
This turned out to be untrue.
Cabinet ministers continue to defend the Prime Minister and are playing down talk of a leadership spill.
Treasurer Joe Hockey says senior ministers are unanimous in their support of Mr Abbott, noting the ministry represented about 40 per cent of the vote in the party room.
He says those who are upset represent the minority of the party room.
"We have heard publicly from a few of our very upset backbenchers. We understand that they're upset. It is tough governing. You don't try and bring down a Prime Minister because of a Knighthood for Prince Philip. Even as a Republican, that is absolutely absurd. You don't want to be in a position where you see Australia have its sixth Government in eight years. We need to have stability."
Education Minister Christopher Pyne says changing leaders by chasing popularity would be a "short-term sugar hit" that would never last.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has told the ABC support for Mr Abbott is overwhelming.
"Look the Prime Minister enjoys the unanimous support of the Cabinet. I believe he enjoys the overwhelming support of the party room. There is no alternative candidate. Our job is to do the job we were elected to do. And that is to build a stronger economy, create more jobs, help and to maintain our national security."
In order to win a leadership spill vote a contender must must have the support of more than fifty per cent of the Liberal Party room
The Party room has 102 members, so this means 52 votes would be needed for success.
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