(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has held onto power after a motion for a leadership spill was defeated, 61 votes to 39.
But Mr Abbott's long-term survival as prime minister remains in question after so many of his colleagues voted for a leadership spill.
Thea Cowie reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Government whip Philip Ruddock declaring the question of government leadership resolved:
"Uh, the Liberal Party has met. We've had a ballot. It was properly conducted. The result is very clear. Nos 61, yes 39. There was one informal, one member away on paternity leave. That seems to me to resolve the matter."
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says his Government is determined to move on now and work with the people who elected it.
"We think that, when you elect a government, when you elect a prime minister, you deserve to keep that government and that prime minister until you have a chance to change your mind. So the focus now is once more on jobs, families, a stronger economy and a secure nation."
The Prime Minister addressed the party room after the secret vote.
He promised more meetings of the ministry and backbench committees and more consultation, particularly on the GP co-payment.
"Fundamentally, this is going to be a Government which socialises decisions before they're finalised. I want to harness all the creativity, not just Cabinet ministers' creativity, not just public service creativity, I want to harness all of the creativity and insights that this party room has to offer."
Backbencher Cory Bernardi says the Prime Minister has handled the criticism well.
"Well, of course, it was a vote in favour of the Prime Minister. There are people who have voiced their discontent, obviously, with some of the processes of government, but I think we've dealt with it. I think the Prime Minister was very strong and acknowledged some of the problems that we've faced over the last 16 months. But, ultimately, I think most of my colleagues want to do what's in the best interests of the Australian people."
Yet, the secret ballot left nearly 40 per cent of the Liberal MPs casting, in effect, a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.
West Australian backbencher Luke Simpkins moved the failed motion for a leadership spill.
He says the vote is a wake up call.
"Getting 39 votes for the spill motion is a powerful message, and it was clear from what the Prime Minister said afterwards that he has listened to that and he's going to change. So, I think that this has been a good wake up call. The Prime Minister's obviously taken on board what our concerns have been, and we now look forward to that being implemented."
Queensland Liberal backbencher Andrew Laming backed Mr Simpkins' call for a leadership spill.
He has told the ABC the Prime Minister has been given a chance, for now.
"The feeling will be, 'We can go to the Budget with the Prime Minister, and he will have a chance for a second Budget, and then we'll see that sales process over the next six months.'"
Former Howard Government minister Peter Reith has told Sky News the vote is unlikely to end speculation about Mr Abbott's future, though.
"It's a very bad day for Tony Abbott. There's just no two ways about it. From the phone calls that I made, I would say that the vast majority of the Cabinet and the executive have voted for Tony because they felt some loyalty or some requirement to do so. But I have absolutely no doubt, already since the moment that those numbers came out, I would say that a serious number of the frontbench members of the executive have peeled off* Tony already."
The Prime Minister is avoiding the question of loyalties.
(Reporter:) "Do you retain confidence in your senior ministers, including the Treasurer, Joe Hockey?" (Abbott:) "The point I make is that this has been a very chastening experience -- obviously, a very chastening experience. It's not often that something like this happens 16 or 17 months into the life of a Government."
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