Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he won't stand for the Liberal leadership again if an expected party room meeting on Friday agrees to spill the leadership.
But Liberal MPs need to first see the advice from the solicitor-general on the eligibility of challenger Peter Dutton to sit in the parliament, in the wake of reports he could be in breach of the constitution.
Mr Turnbull also wants to see the letter purportedly signed by 43 Liberal MPs calling for the meeting.
He's slated that meeting for midday on Friday.
"Australians will be rightly appalled by what they're witnessing in their nation's parliament today and in the course of this week," Mr Turnbull said in Canberra on Thursday.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
It was important Mr Dutton's eligibility to be in parliament was clarified, he said.
The former Home Affairs minister has his own legal advice that his interest in childcare centres - which receive a funding stream from the federal government - does not breach section 44 of the constitution.
This bans from parliament anyone who has "any direct or indirect pecuniary interest with the public service of the commonwealth".
"This is a very, very significant point," Mr Turnbull said.
"I cannot underline too much how important it is that anyone who seeks to be prime minister of Australia is eligible to be a member of parliament."
The government's legal advice is expected to be ready early Friday.
Mr Turnbull said the public would be "crying out for an election" once the dust settled.
He said a "form of madness" had taken over those agitating for a leadership change.
Mr Turnbull will retire from parliament if the spill motion goes ahead.
He declined to endorse a successor amid reports Treasurer Scott Morrison will also seek the leadership in the event of a ballot.
