Federal frontbencher Christopher Pyne says Julie Bishop acted "entirely appropriately" before September's leadership spill, after it was revealed her chief-of-staff attended a gathering of Turnbull backers.
He says Murray Hansen was merely at government backbencher Peter Hendy's house to catch up for drinks, which were held the day before Tony Abbott lost the Liberal leadership.
Ms Bishop, the deputy Liberal leader, relayed party tensions to Mr Abbott when she became aware of who was at the gathering, Mr Pyne said.
"She warned the leader at the time, Tony Abbott, that there were difficulties," he told the Nine Network.
Senior Labor MP Anthony Albanese said it was absurd to suggest Mr Hansen was at Mr Hendy's house without knowing about the leadership plotting.
"It fails the laugh test, that a chief of staff was there for a glass of wine with Wyatt Roy and all of the plotters who were there," Mr Albanese told the Nine Network.
"It was a meeting to knock off the Prime Minister."
Cabinet minister Josh Frydenberg, who backed Mr Abbott, has no concerns with Mr Hansen attending the gathering.
"All that is in the past," he told ABC radio.
The "troops" seem to be buoyant since Mr Turnbull's takeover and Ms Bishop was an absolutely critical part of the team.
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