Is Tony Abbottâ€™s support slipping?

Tony Abbott's leadership remains under pressure as a backbench MP says he'll support a leadership spill.

Leadership crisis ... more than 30 backbenchers are said to be agitating for a change. Source: AAP

AS speculation over the Liberal leadership continues, a senior party figure has distanced himself from the embattled Prime Minister.

Speaking to Sky News, Senator Arthur Sinodinos stated that Tony Abbott did not have his "unconditional support".

"I've always supported Mr Abbott but that support ongoing is not unconditional," Mr Sinodinos said.

The one-time Chief of Staff for former Prime Minister John Howard is the most senior party member to date to give credence to reports of leadership instability, as other Cabinet members rushed to proclaim their support for Mr Abbott.

Mr Sinodinos said he could not speak for his colleagues, but when asked whether Mr Abbott would still be leader next week, he replied: "Comrade, come and ask me next week."

The former Assistant Treasurer predicted that, in future, "the backbench will be a lot more assertive in puttings its views forward".

"Fairness in how we do things is going to be very important in framing the next budget," he said.

Asserting views ... Senator Arthur Sinodinos has stated his support for the Prime Minister is 'not unconditional'. Source: News Corp Australia

The Senator's comments came after rumours emerged — and were just as swiftly rebutted — that Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull had been making calls to MPs asking them if they would vote for him in a leadership ballot.

The ABC political presenter Julia Baird tweeted that two Liberal MPs confirmed they had been contacted by Mr Turnbull asking them if they would vote for him in a leadership ballot.

However Mr Turnbull's office denied he was trying to secure numbers.

News Corp Australia has been unable to confirm Ms Baird's report.

A number of Liberal MPs denied Mr Turnbull had been actively campaigning for support

"He hasn't called me and I'd be surprised if that was true," one MP said.

"Not true," another texted.

Under fire ... a troubled looking Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrives at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

Another said: "I'm not convinced the story is true".

A spokesman for Mr Turnbull today said he had not been canvassing the leadership but did confirm to the ABC that MPs have been calling Mr Turnbull to discuss the leadership issue.

Queensland MP Jane Prentice, who on the weekend said the issue of leadership needed to be looked at, told News Corp Mr Turnbull had never spoken to her about leadership ambitions.

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Possible challenge ... Malcolm Turnbull is said to have phoned MPs asking for support. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

"I've never spoken to Malcolm about leadership," she said.

"Malcolm has been one of the most loyal and supportive members of the Abbott government."

West Australian Liberal Senator Chris Back said Mr Turnbull had not spoken to him directly.

He said the way his colleagues were treating the issues within the party was akin to an "oversized reality television show" and urged his colleagues to wait until they were locked in a room on Tuesday to air their grievances.

Queensland Senator Ian Macdonald also said that he hadn't been called by Mr Turnbull.

He said that there should be no spill on Tuesday because it was not the Liberal way.

"That is the Labor way," Senator Macdonald told News Corp Australia.

"And in my view any such spill would fail. We need to carefully, maturely and selflessly consider all aspects of the federal implications of the Queensland and Victorian elections and other 'barnacles' at the federal level and do what is right for Australia."

Senator Macdonald said if the party did not change its approach federally "that will not happen".

Meanwhile, Tony Abbott has not directly ruled out bringing on a spill of leadership positions when MPs return to Parliament next week amid continued speculation his job is on the line.

Asked directly by 2GB's Ray Hadley if he would bring on a spill when the party room meets next Tuesday, Mr Abbott simply said he wanted to avoid the "chaos of the Labor years".

"I am determined to deliver steady, stable, solid, dependable government," the Prime Minister said.

"The last thing we should do is go anywhere near the rabble of the Labor Party years.

The development came after Treasurer Joe Hockey dared all MPs unhappy with Tony Abbott's leadership to make their views public.

Mr Hockey issued his challenge to his colleagues in the wake of three backbenchers declaring yesterday the PM did not have their support.

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The Treasurer said today that the discontent was just from "three or four" MPs but that if more were unhappy they should put their name to their concerns.

"If there are dozens, come out dozens," Mr Hockey told reporters.

News Corp revealed on Sunday more than 30 backbenchers were said to be agitating for a change.

Describing the PM's position as "terminal", former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett said a spill of leadership positions in the federal party was desperately needed.

Taking it all in her stride ... Foreign Affairs Minister ran into Parliament House this morning amid controversy about a government leadership spill. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

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The Liberal party elder said while he believed Mr Abbott was a good man, he could not continue in his current position.

"Sadly the realisation has dawned on politicians that his leadership is terminal and this needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so the party can move on," Mr Kennett told ABC radio.

Show your hands ... Treasurer Joe Hockey talking to the media at Parliament House in Canberra. Source: News Corp Australia

"I feel very sorry for Tony, he's a good man but the reality is most of where we are as a government is self-inflicted."

Mr Kennett said federal issues did contribute to the disastrous loss in Queensland and that if there was not a leadership spill on Tuesday, Mike Baird's NSW government could face the same fate.

"It could be at risk if this debate continues."

Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull are being touted as the top leadership contenders.

Ms Bishop yesterday ruled out a challenge after reports that she failed to do so when she and the Prime Minister dined together on Sunday.

Malcolm in the middle ... Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull arrives at Parliament this morning. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

Education Minister Christopher Pyne said Ms Bishop was "insulted" by calls for her to defend her loyalty to Tony Abbott.

Mr Pyne said it took the Foreign Minister so long to rule out challenging Tony Abbott because she "felt she didn't need to prove her loyalty".

"I think she was insulted, a little offended a bit by the notion that she wasn't totally loyal to Tony Abbott," Mr Pyne told the Nine Network.

Under the pump ... Prime Miniser Tony Abbott with his wife Margie. Source: News Corp Australia

His comments came as part of a media blitz of cabinet ministers in support of Tony Abbott this morning.

Joe Hockey, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, Andrew Laming and Josh Frydenberg all came out in support of Mr Abbott in the media.

Leadership tensions hit fever pitch yesterday when three backbenchers publicly revealed Mr Abbott no longer had their support.

West Australian MP Dennis Jensen was the first to reveal he was no longer loyal to Mr Abbott, followed by Queenslander Mal Brough saying the PM did not have his unqualified support and Warren Entsch commenting that he believed the leadership issue needed to be brought to a head when Parliament resumes on Tuesday.