Malcolm Turnbull has declined to rule out a ministry reshuffle as Labor steps up pressure on Attorney-General George Brandis over the Bell Group legal storm.
The prime minister appeared with Senator Brandis at a media conference in Canberra on Tuesday morning to announce the appointments of Susan Kiefel as High Court chief justice and new judge James Edelman.
However, behind the scenes there is speculation of a minor frontbench reshuffle, which Mr Turnbull laughed off as a "ritual question" in the final week of parliament each year.
"We have, I have, an excellent ministry," he told reporters.
"I am delighted with the work that my colleagues are undertaking - it is measured by results and the results are building up."
Labor leader Bill Shorten told caucus members at the start of their final meeting for the year the prime minister was under pressure on a number of fronts.
His predecessor Tony Abbott had delivered an "hour-long job interview" on Sky News on Sunday and Senator Brandis had many questions to answer over whether he sought to favour the West Australian Liberal state government over the commonwealth in a court case relating to the Bell Group liquidation.
"As soon as the Christmas turkey goes in the oven, George Brandis will be cooked," Mr Shorten said.
Just under 12 months ago Mr Turnbull stood down two ministers - Jamie Briggs and Mal Brough - and reshuffled his ministry.
Mr Shorten said a similar theme was emerging.
"We saw it at this time last year - do you have confidence in Mal Brough and Jamie Briggs? Absolutely. Between Christmas and new year, when no-one is watching, out they go with the rest of the Christmas rubbish."
Some of the Liberal agitators for change within the government have scheduled a lunch on Tuesday in Parliament House's "monkey pod" room - named after its tropical hardwood timber table.
The regular conservative MP guest list includes Mr Abbott, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, as well as Michael Sukkar, Angus Taylor and Ian Goodenough.
The latest Fairfax poll gives Labor a 51-49 two-party lead, while the Newspoll puts the figure at 53-47.
But Mr Turnbull told a coalition partyroom meeting the government was "defying the critics".
"When we wrap up the parliament this week for the summer vacation, for the Christmas vacation, all of us will be able to go back to our electorates and say: 'We came to you in the election with an economic plan. We laid it out. We sought your support and you returned us to government and we are delivering'," he said.
