Tony Abbott has moved to quell a coalition backbench revolt, promising to consult more widely but standing by his decision to knight Prince Philip.
The prime minister has been ridiculed by his own coalition party colleagues, the media and the public for his decision to give a knighthood to the Duke of Edinburgh as part of the Australia Day awards.
It fed into growing speculation of a leadership change, after voter disquiet over Medicare and university changes and poor opinion poll results.
"I take it on the chin but I do want to assure people that I have heard and there will be considerably more consultation around these awards in the future," Mr Abbott said.
He said it was his call and he had not consulted anyone - including his chief of staff Peta Credlin - other than the chairman of the awards council, Angus Houston, who was also given a knighthood, and Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.
The prime minister stood by his decision, saying the Duke of Edinburgh had been a distinguished servant of Australia.
But he admitted it had been a distraction for the government and the Liberal National Party, which is campaigning for re-election in Queensland this Saturday.
"I do not want it further to distract," Mr Abbott said.
"That's why we're cracking on with the important business of government."
To underline this point, Mr Abbott met with domestic violence campaigner and new Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty, whose son died at the hands of her husband, and announced a national plan to tackle domestic violence.
Liberal backbencher Dan Tehan said Mr Abbott had been telephoning coalition MPs, who have been publicly and privately critical of their leader.
"He's been listening to the backbench and taking that advice," Mr Tehan told Sky News.
"The fact that he has come out today and learned a lesson ... that's a positive thing."
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton believes Mr Abbott will be more consultative.
"He's listened very closely, particularly over the course of the last 24 hours, to the Australian public," Mr Dutton said.
"We need to listen to the criticisms, we need to listen to our colleagues, we all need to improve and we will improve over the course of the next 12 months."
Mr Dutton said the prime minister's "hand of success" could be seen in a range of government achievements, including stopping asylum seeker boats.
Labor frontbencher Penny Wong said voters and coalition MPs were getting tired of Mr Abbott's excuses.
"This is a bloke who just doesn't listen, doesn't learn and just doesn't get it," Senator Wong said.
Ms Credlin became a trending topic on social media on Wednesday after News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch called for her to "do her patriotic duty and resign" or be sacked.
"Leading involves cruel choices," Mr Murdoch wrote on Twitter.
But Education Minister Christopher Pyne said Ms Credlin and Mr Abbott had performed a "remarkable role" getting the coalition elected.
"I think that Peta Credlin is absolutely intrinsic to our success," Mr Pyne said.
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