WHAT LIBERAL MPs ARE SAYING ABOUT THE LIBERAL LEADERSHIP SPILL NEXT WEEK
MPS INDICATING THEY OPPOSE A SPILL MOTION:
*Prime Minister Tony Abbott
"I have spoken to deputy leader Julie Bishop and we will stand together in urging the partyroom to defeat this particular motion."
*Foreign Minister Julie Bishop
"My role as deputy is to support the leader, not to change the leader and I don't support a spill motion."
*Treasurer Joe Hockey
"The leadership team has my absolute unqualified support and why? Because the Australian people voted for stability."
*Finance Minister Mathias Cormann
"I support Tony Abbott as our prime minister and Julie Bishop as the deputy leader of the Liberal Party. I will vote to defeat the motion as I would urge all of my colleagues."
*Small Business Minister Bruce Billson
"This spill motion will not succeed. It would be an act of self harm."
*Defence Minister Kevin Andrews
"We should make a decision to ensure we have stability, and respect the decision made by the Australian people at the last election."
*Trade Minister Andrew Robb
Mr Robb has called motion "totally unnecessary" and says the prime minister is entitled to some "breathing space" to deal with criticisms.
*Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg
"I think this spill motion will be defeated, and that's because Tony Abbott retains the strong support of the majority of his colleagues."
*Christian Porter, member for Pearce
"I am a supporter of the prime minister, I do not support the spill motion. I do expect it to be defeated, but I would prefer to see it withdrawn."
*ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja
"I'm very clearly supporting our prime minister and very clearly supporting our deputy."
*Tasmania Liberal Senator Eric Abetz
Mr Abetz said he was confident the current leadership team comprised "the right people to lead the nation at this time to ensure we get the policies in place."
John Alexander, member for Bennelong
"I think it (the ballot) will be an endorsement of the current team that was duly elected."
MPS INDICATING SUPPORT FOR A SPILL MOTION:
*Luke Simpkins, member for Cowan
"I think most people around the country unfortunately have stopped listening to the prime minister and if he's not being listened to them he can't lead."
*Don Randall, member for Canning
Mr Randall is understood to be seconding the spill motion.
*Dennis Jensen, member for Tangney
"I believe that it is necessary that this is brought to a head and lanced."
UNCLEAR
* Western Australian Senator Chris Back
"I liken it to a family dispute and, therefore, best sorted out round the dining room table and not best sorted out in the public arena. Luke hasn't approached me to canvass my views on the action he's taken."
* Philip Ruddock, member for Berowra
"I'm not going to get into the business of being a commentator."
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