But Mr Entsch, a senior MP who is well respected in the Coalition partyroom, said he was "not pushing for a change in leader, I'm looking for significant change in leadership". North Queensland MP Warren Entsch. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen A second Queensland MP, Ewen Jones, said he "didn't see the point" of the announcement, while Northern Territory's Chief Minister and leader of the Country Liberal Party, Adam Giles, likened the announcement to an April Fool's Day prank. "I woke up this morning and read the wires and was confused between Australia Day and April Fool's Day," Mr Giles said, adding the decision "makes us a bit of a joke in a range of areas as I really question the motivations in doing this". "It's Australia day, we are not a bunch of tossers, let's get it right."

In recent weeks, Mr Abbott has faced questions over his leadership and has reached out to the backbench in an attempt to calm nerves and present a more consultative style. Illustration: Rocco Fazzari But the knighting of Prince Philip did not go to cabinet and was the result of a "captain's call", with the Prime Minister consulting only the head of the National Australia Day Council, retired ADF chief Angus Houston, and Buckingham Palace. Air Chief Marshal (retired) Houston was also made a knight on Monday. Mr Entsch said he had not agreed with the Prime Minister's decision to revive knights and dames in March 2014 and "I suspect that if it had gone to the party room it would have been rejected".

"But it was something the PM decided to do; that's his prerogative," Mr Entsch said. "[Former governor-general] Quentin Bryce and [Governor-General] Peter Cosgrove were very good recipients [and] Angus Houston is great, but for the life of me I can't understand why Prince Philip. I've got a dozen people in my electorate, any one of them would be more worthy." I’ve got a dozen people in my electorate, any one of them would be more worthy Warren Entsch Mr Entsch has previously criticised Ms Credlin publicly for the operation of the Prime Minister's Office, but declined to repeat those criticism on Monday. Mr Jones said he had supported the decision to revive knights and dames for governors-general. "For anyone else, I just don't see the point. On a scale of one to 10, this is about .25 per cent of what we should be speaking about. I wonder how much it matters to Prince Philip. To have Angus Houston in the same breath as Prince Philip is a bit much," he said.

Mr Jones said the government should be focused on debates about the economy, industrial relations and other key issues. Another Liberal MP, who asked not to be named but identified as a strong supporter of Mr Abbott and a monarchist, said the decision to honour Prince Philip was "embarrassing". The MP said the decision was the latest in a series of bad decisions and that hostility in Liberal ranks towards Ms Credlin, who keeps a tight grip on government decision making, was rising. "She has to go, he is too loyal to her. If she goes he will buy himself some time," the MP said. A second MP, who also identifies as a monarchist, asked why "people were getting gongs for doing their job? Are we kidding?"

The same MP asked said the knighthood for Prince Philip had taken focus from the Australian of the Year for 2015, Rosie Batty. "Could we talk about the main game, the economy?" the MP said. Privately, ministers are also complaining about the functioning of Mr Abbott's office, citing delays in paperwork making its way through the office. Mr Abbott defended his decision on Monday, pointing to Prince Philip's "life of service and duty". Follow us on Twitter