Peter Dutton claims the naysayers inspire him to keeping fighting in federal politics after he again restated his desire to be in the top job one day.
Mr Dutton is reported to have restated his view at a Fairfax Media event on Wednesday night that he would one day like to beprime minister, but insisted he had no intention of knocking off Malcolm Turnbull.
"You don't sign up to play for the Wallabies or the Socceroos or for the Australian cabinet to not be leader or have the opportunity to become leader one day," he said.
On Thursday Mr Dutton, a former police officer, recalled incidents of heckling by Labor in question time.
"All you can do is stare those naysayers down," he told 2GB radio.
"It provides fuel to me to keep going and makes me more determined to achieve the things that we want, and if they want to stare that down or belittle, it makes you more energetic."
Assistant minister Craig Laundy respects his colleague and friend for being honest about his leadership ambitions and for coming from the "real world".
"I think Peter is an outstanding senior minister," he told Sky News.
"He's someone I'm very close to. I was on the phone to him this morning for example."
Mr Laundy says if there is a future vacancy, Mr Dutton would make an outstanding leader.
"But there are other outstanding candidates."
Asked whether he'd be happy to see Mr Dutton leader one day, Treasurer Scott Morrison said he's happy to have Malcolm Turnbull in the role.
"I want him to continue to be able to do that for the benefit of all Australians," he told ABC TV.
