Senator Arthur Sinodinos played a central role in toppling Tony Abbott earlier this week, in what Fairfax Media described as a “mission driven by pragmatism, principle and personal animosity”.

While the Coalition’s unpopularity in the polls may have been the key motivator for Sinodinos in the leadership spill, deep personal frustrations with Abbott and the PM’s office have played their part.

Speaking to The Age, one Turnbull supporter said that Mr Sinodinos had been “integral” to forcing the leadership ballot on Monday evening, which Abbott lost 54-44.

Appearing live on the ABC’s 7.30 program just minutes before Liberal MPs voted, Sinodinos delivered a scathing attack on the prime minister who in 2013 appointed him to the relatively junior role of assistant treasurer.

“We need a change in both the style and the substance of our national leadership,” said Sinodinos, before describing Abbott as “not being strong enough in the economic debate”.

Sinodinos went on to say that the Abbott government had lost people’s trust by its actions in the 2014 Budget.

“If we’d had a more measured approach, if we’d been less cavalier about breaking our promises, we would not have lost the trust of the Australian people,” he said.

“I want a more inclusive style going forward and I believe that’s a style that maximises the chances of getting real economic change and reform up.”

While the Coalition’s unpopularity in the polls may have been the key motivator for Sinodinos in the leadership spill, deep personal frustrations with Abbott and the PM’s office played their part.

Six months into the Abbott government, Sinodinos had to step aside after the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) began investigating his role at Australian Water Holdings (AWH), a company linked to disgraced former NSW Labor minister Eddie Obeid.

With the ICAC issue unresolved in late 2014, Abbott and Sinodinos agreed he would resign from the frontbench, and reportedly that he would announce the decision on the Sunday before Christmas. With the media alerted to the news three days early, Sinodinos blamed Abbott’s office, namely chief of staff Peta Credlin, for the leak.

He would later say he felt the prime minister’s office was “dancing on his grave” for briefing against him on the ICAC issue.

In February’s leadership spill motion, Sinodinos’ attachment to Tony Abbott as PM became clear after warning in a television interview that Abbott did not have his “unconditional” support.

As the year wore on his alarm at the government’s prospects grew, fuelled by Abbott’s handling of Bronwyn Bishop’s abuse of parliamentary expenses, and the debate over a conscience vote on same-sex marriage.

When Turnbull spoke at his first partyroom meeting on Tuesday he reportedly praised the way Sinodinos ran John Howard’s office and suggested it was a model to resurrect.

The only issue that will prevent Sinodinos returning to the frontbench immediately is the unresolved situation at ICAC, which is yet to hand down its findings on AWH.

A show of faith by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in a man who helped engineer his victory would place the Greek heritage politician centre stage once again as early as Monday.

Sources: Fairfax Media, ABC.