Independent senator Nick Xenophon says Prime Minister Tony Abbott will only last until the end of the week if he doesn’t fend off the talk of a leadership challenge.
“Unless he makes real progress by the end of this week, I think he’s basically gone for all money,” Mr Xenophon said this week.
The prime minister’s press club address didn’t do much to fend off leadership spill talks, but deputy leader Julie Bishop, treasurer Joe Hockey and minister Malcolm Turnbull have voiced their support to the prime minister.
Last night Liberal MP Dennis Jensen became the first MP to publicly call on Mr Abbott to step aside.
Mr Jensen called on the party to organise a leadership ballot next week, joining the chorus of Liberal backbenchers who have fuelled the leadership crisis.
Senator Xenophon said Mr Abbott remained in “dire straits” with his backbench.
“It’s a case of too little too late,” Mr Xenophon said
The prime minister has seen his personal approval rating nosedive to 27 per cent and was met with ire after gave an Australian knighthood to the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.
