PM Tony Abbott and Communications Minister stare down Labor's attacks over the leadership woes in Question Time.
Invigorated by events ... Opposition Leader Bill Shorten addressing the Labor Caucus meeting at Parliament House in Canberra this morning. Picture: Kym Smith Source: News Corp Australia
MALCOLM Turnbull, the MP predicted to challenge Tony Abbott, made a withering attack on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten in Question Time that had the PM smiling.
After the Prime Minister had continually rebuked Labor's past actions in a spirited fightback a day after his leadership faced its biggest test yet from his own party room, it was Mr Turnbull's attack on Mr Shorten that was the highlight.
"This is the man that persuaded Kevin Rudd not to go to a double dissolution. This is the man that led Kevin Rudd over the cliff into an abyss where he then stabbed him in the back," Mr Turnbull said of Mr Shorten.
"You have no credibilty or integrity."
Let me go in to bat ... Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull speaks with Prime Minister Tony Abbott during House of Representatives question time at Parliament House. Picture: Stefan Postles / Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Mr Turnbull was seen widely as a contender for the Liberal leadership, however he never publicly showed his hand.
Mr Abbott stared down a spate of attacks from Labor in parliamentary question time and an impassioned Prime Minister hit back at multiple questions from Labor over his comments yesterday that "good government starts today".
"What on earth has the Prime Minister been doing for the past 521 days," Opposition Leader Bill Shorten questioned Mr Abbott to kick off the question time session.
"Will you tell the truth? Absolutely nothing has changed," Mr Shorten asked in a separate question.
But a fiery Tony Abbott hit back, calling the former Labor government "the worst government in Australia's history".
Gave as good as he got ... Prime Minister Tony Abbott's fight returned as he returned the attacks from with Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten during question time. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia
"They have learned nothing and they can't change," an impassioned Mr Abbott said.
"That's their problem and that's why they will never be back on this side of the chamber."
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Played starring role ... Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull's attack on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and his role in the dismissal of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard had his leader smiling. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia
Liberal MPs yesterday voted against a motion calling for a leadership spill 61 votes to 39.
But the 39 votes in favour of removing Tony Abbott from the Prime Ministership was seek as a significant blow to the PM.
Mr Abbott also publicly backed his Treasurer Joe Hockey in question time today amid reports many Coalition MPs wanted him removed from the role.
The Prime Minister said Mr Hockey had his "full confidence".
"I have full confidence in the Treasurer," Mr Abbott said.
"I have full confidence in my team ... why wouldn't our nation have full confidence (in Mr Hockey)."
Earlier Mr Abbott told his colleagues in a meeting of Coalition MPs today that he had heard their message loud and clear and said continued chatter about internal issues in the Liberal party was "self indulgent".
"People think talking about ourselves and internal gossip is self indulgent," Mr Abbott said.
"You have given me a very strong message in no uncertain times."
He told his colleagues that if they didn't end the focus on themselves they would likely lose the next election.
"If we focus on the ALP we will win the next election. If not, we will get a very different result," the Prime Minister said.
Mr Abbott also said the Liberal party needed to return to the discipline and collegiality the party showed in opposition.
He also confirmed that political staffers caught leaking dirt files and damaging material to the media against MPs will be sacked.
The Prime Minister was asked by West Australian MP Don Randall, who co-signed the motion for a leadership spill, if staff from the Prime Minister's office caught backgrounding against MPs would lose their jobs.
"That is a sacking offence," Mr Abbott said.
Mr Abbott is also under increasing pressure to sack his chief of staff Peta Credlin who was today described by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as "powerful" and having "a lot of opinions".
Frightening to Liberal and national backbenchers ... Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Chief of Staff Peta Credlin. Picture: Kym Smith Source: Supplied
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Ms Bishop said that Mr Abbott was "a smart man" and should listen to the anger within the party over Ms Credlin's alleged control over the Prime Minister.
Liberal government fought back after leadership spill defeated ... Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop attacks the Opposition during Question Time in the House of Representatives, Federal Parliament, Canberra. Picture: Ray Strange Source: News Corp Australia
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Foreign Minister Julie Bishop bumps into Opposition Leader Bill Shorten in the Press Gallery, leading to an awkward moment in the light of yesterday's Liberal leadership woes.
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