Tony Abbott and senior ministers have scrambled to play down reports he is planning a reshuffle of his ministry.
"They're wrong," the prime minister told reporters in Canberra on Friday, before adding reports of end-of-year reshuffles were "absolutely a dime a dozen".
A week out from the first electoral test for Mr Abbott's prime ministership in a by-election for the West Australian seat of Canning, ministers were in damage control about suggestions that up to six of them were for the chop.
"It's speculation, it's speculation," Social Services Minister Scott Morrison said of a Daily Telegraph report that claimed Mr Abbott was being urged to consider swift and significant changes by replacing "deadwood" with rising young talent.
For his part, Mr Abbott insisted the government was totally focussed on jobs, economic growth and community safety, "not Canberra insider gossip".
In the firing line apparently are Defence Minister Kevin Andrews, government Senate leader Eric Abetz, Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane, Trade Minister Andrew Robb and junior infrastructure minister Jamie Briggs.
Labor is convinced there is some truth to the reports, describing the newspaper as an annexe of the prime minister's media office.
"These stories don't come and go when they are in the Daily Telegraph," frontbencher Anthony Albanese said.
Any clear-out would be a response to Mr Abbott being "stalked" for the Liberal leadership by Malcolm Turnbull, Julie Bishop and Mr Morrison, he said.
Treasurer Joe Hockey, under fire from coalition MPs disgruntled with his performance, is not among the ministers supposedly under threat.
"I'm sure his job is absolutely secure," cabinet colleague Christopher Pyne told the Nine Network.
Mr Hockey told Radio 2GB the only jobs he was concerned about were those of other Australians.
He suggested cutting the budgets of some of his ministerial colleagues might have something to do with talk about his performance.
"Some of them aren't very happy," he said.
A spokesman for Mr Andrews said he was getting on with the job of defence minister.
"The first priority of this government is the safety and security of its citizens and this is a responsibility we take very seriously," he told AAP.
Mr Robb's office refused to comment on the report.
Earlier in the week he dismissed talk he had been approached to replace Kim Beazley as ambassador to the United States.
When asked whether he thought his job was safe, Environment Minister Greg Hunt told reporters: "Always hopeful, never presumptive."
Other ministers mentioned in the report have been contacted for comment.
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