Telstra chief executive David Thodey says Australian businesses want the Abbott government to move on from its recent leadership tensions so they can plan for the future.
Speaking after Australia's biggest telco announced a record $2.1 billion half year profit, Mr Thodey said business wanted stability in Canberra.
"We're looking for consistency in leadership so we can get good policy and get on with it, that's what business wants and we need certainty," he said.
"So in that sense yes we want them to move forward ... but they have to work through the political process. I'm not a politician, I'm a businessman."
Mr Thodey's comments come a day after Commonwealth Bank boss Ian Narev warned weak consumer and business confidence posed a "significant economic threat" to Australia and attributed part of the blame to Canberra.
"You do clearly need certainty in order to make real progress and I think the political position in Canberra for some time now has not been conducive to that kind of stable policy making on infrastructure, competitiveness, foreign investment and trade," Mr Narev said on Wednesday.
"What we are really hoping is that ... we get to an environment where the very capable people on both sides of politics can spend their time debating about really good policy in those areas."
Internal satisfaction with Prime Minister Tony Abbott's leadership lead to a spill motion in the Liberal party room on Monday.
The motion to declare leadership positions vacant was defeated 61-39.
