Was that Shortenâ€™s best speech?

Labor takes the opportunity to take some stabs at the government's leadership woes in Question Time.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott returns to Question Time today. Picture: Stefan Postles/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

TODAY an unusually feisty Bill Shorten launched an attack on both Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull — and that was just the start.

Labor used parliamentary Question Time to attack the Coalition over the leadership tensions plaguing Mr Abbott.

The Opposition Leader interrupted Question Time at around 3pm this afternoon and attempted to move a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister. The motion was defeated by 87 to 54 votes.

In a session dominated by leadership tensions within the Liberal party, Mt Shorten said Mr Abbott's biggest broken promise was his pledge to deliver stable government.

"There have been many broken promises by this government but the promise to run a stable and mature government is arguably the biggest broken promise of this sad government's last 17 months," Mr Shorten said.

"We see a government causing great disarray with the confidence of Australians," he said.

"This morning was a debacle."

He criticised the government, throwing zingers like it was "more interested in Buckingham Palace than Beijing".

Mr Shorten launched a stinging rebuke on Malcolm Turnbull saying he wanted to "blow the prime minister from his seat".

MORE: The question that will haunt Abbott

ANDREW BOLT: Turnbull really 'trashed the place'

CHEEKY MOMENT: Shorten gatecrashes spill motion

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull responds during Question Time in the House of Representatives, Federal Parliament in Canberra. Picture: Ray Strange Source: News Corp Australia

He said that Mr Turnbull was stringing his supporters along and wanted Mr Abbott's job but wasn't prepared to do it publicly.

"You are an extreme government motivated by an extreme ideology," Mr Shorten said.

He said Mr Turnbull would "say and do anything" to be in power.

The motion was seconded by deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek.

"All of us in here know that this is not over," she said.

Mr Abbott stood to address the suspension of standing orders saying he would not be lectured by Labor over leadership tensions.

Labor attack ...Prime Minister Tony Abbott with Malcolm Turnbull, during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House, Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

"Sure this government hasn't gotten everything right ... this is a good government that is getting on with the job of working for the Australian people," the Prime Minister said.

Mr Abbott accused Mr Shorten of "cheap smear" and that it showed Labor was "unsuitable to occupy the government benches of this country".

He said he accepted he had some difficulties in the Senate but that the government had dealt with an "absolute fiscal disaster".

"They are not man enough to be part of the solution rather than just being part of the problem," Mr Abbott said.

Fighting back ... Treasurer Joe Hockey in Question Time at Parliament House today. Picture: Stefan Postles/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Earlier, Mr Abbott has confirmed his ongoing support for Joe Hockey saying he "stands by his treasurer".

He was asked by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten specifically if he supported Joe Hockey or if he would drop any further commitments in the May Budget.

"I stand by my Treasurer," Mr Abbott said.

"I stand by my Treasurer and I stand by my team."

Mr Hockey then fired back at Labor, saying it is opposing "everything we do" on jobs.

"The best thing Labor can do on jobs is get out of the way," he said.

Standing his ground ... Tony Abbott at Parliament House today. Picture: Stefan Postles/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Mr Shorten fired off his first question to Mr Abbott in Question Time, asking "how can he claim to have a mandate to run this country?" given the Liberal party had shown a lack of confidence in him.

Mr Abbott said he can understand why Mr Shorten doesn't want to remember the election that Labor lost.

Question Time began with two motion of condolences for Eric Fitzgibbon, a former MP and the father of current MP Joel Fitzgibbon, and Labor party icon and former deputy Labor leader Tom Uren. Another motion of condolence was moved for the passing of Australian author Colleen McCullough.

While Clive Palmer is in the chamber, Bob Katter is not.

Holding on as leader ... Scott Morrison, Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott in the House of Representatives after a condolence motion on the Sydney siege. Picture: Kym Smith Source: News Corp Australia

In his first press conference following a test of his leadership, Mr Abbott said he is getting down to work after the leadership ballot, saying his "door is open" and "good government starts today".

Mr Abbott told reporters the government had seen some "difficult weeks", but they were focused on governing, and not focusing on internal party turmoil.

He avoided questions on whether or not his controversial chief of staff Peta Credlin will remain in her role. She was notably missing from Question Time today.

PM Tony Abbott says he is confident the government has put the leadership issues behind them, and he is ready to get back to work.

Ms Credlin has been the centre of angst from MPs unhappy with the hold she has on the Prime Minister.

Asked directly if she would remain in her role Mr Abbott simply said: "all of us have had to have a good hard long look at ourselves".

"And all of us are resolved to be different and better in the future," Mr Abbott said.

"I stand by my colleagues. But do I say everyone is perfect? Absolutely not.

"Of course we all need to lift our game after something like this."

Liberal line-up ... Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss, during Question Time. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

The Prime Minister said the vote on a leadership spill in the party room this morning and the tensions in the lead up to it had been a very "chasing experience".

"We have had some headwinds," Mr Abbott said.

Mr Abbott said he was keen to get on with the job of governing.

"I am confident that what we have shown people is that we have looked over the precipice and we are not going down the Labor Party path of a damaged and dysfunctional government," Mr Abbott said.

What's he thinking? ... Prime Minister Tony Abbott with Malcolm Turnbull, during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House, Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

"I've listened, I've learnt and I've changed and the government has changed with me."

When asked about changes to Medicare, he admitted parts of the last federal budget was "perhaps too bold, too ambitious" with the wisdom of hindsight.

"My door is open, my phone is there, I answer my phone, I listen to my messages," he said.

"This is going to be a government that socialises decisions before they are finalised," he added.

Ready to go ... Opposition Leader Bill Shorten walks past the coalition party room where voting on the Liberal Party leadership was taking place in Canberra. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Mr Abbott will begin his attempts to reclaim the confidence of his party room immediately, by meeting with backbenchers this afternoon after Question Time.

The Prime Minister will meet with the heads of the backbench policy committees following parliamentary question time in a show that he is serious about listening more to his party.

He told his party room he accepted he had a "near death experience" with a vote on a motion to spill the leadership of the party.

He has reportedly asked for six months to show he is a changed man.

Liberal MPs voted against the motion 61 to 39. But many are reading the vote as a blow to Mr Abbott's hold on the Prime Ministership.

Mr Abbott made an impassioned plea to his colleagues that he had heard their desire for change and would make efforts to include the backbench in more decisions.

He said he believed he could win the next election against Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.