The 73 year-old former Speaker retained the backing of the centre-right in NSW despite loud public calls for her retirement and agreement in the senior ranks of the Turnbull Government that her time was up. Bronwyn Bishop opposes same-sex marriage. Credit:Christopher Pearce Members of the hard right were playing down talk of an official deal on Sunday. "There was no deal done, this one was free of charge," said a source. But the centre-right is convinced that the hard right planned the hit on Mrs Bishop in collusion with the left and that Mr Abbott had been "hitting the phones hard" to ensure that outcome. A key piece of evidence pointing to a deal was being circulated among Liberals on Sunday.

The preselection voting tally from Dee Why RSL shows that three of Mr Villatora's 12 votes went across to Mr Falinski in the second round of voting while Mr Villatora was still alive in the ballot. Bronwyn Bishop enters Dee Why RSL from a side door for the Liberal pre-selection on Saturday. Credit:Heath Aston "Those three could look Walter in the eye and say they voted for him when it was clear they were actually backing Jason," said a source. "Abbott's lot decided to garrotte her." Prime Minister Tony Abbott greets Speaker Bronwyn Bishop at the UN Women breakfast at Parliament House in Canberra in March 2015. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

In the final round, Mr Falinski prevailed 51-39, with 100 per cent of Mr Villatora's vote moving behind him except for one abstention. Mr Abbott, who once described himself as the "political love child" of Mrs Bishop and former prime minister John Howard, took to Twitter on Sunday to praise Mrs Bishop but also, tellingly, welcome Mr Falinski in the neighbouring seat. Bronwyn Bishop is dragged to the Speaker's chair by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Christopher Pyne after the 2013 election. Credit:Andrew Meares "I congratulate Jason Falinski for gaining Liberal preselection. I look forward to working with Jason to advance the cause of the Peninsula," Mr Abbott tweeted. "I thank Bronwyn Bishop for her service to the electorate, party and country for many years. She has been a warrior for good causes and deserves the gratitude of all members of the Liberal Party."

Jason Falinski leaves Dee Why RSL with his wife after defeating Bronwyn Bishop in the Liberal pre-selection ballot for the seat of Mackellar. Credit:Christopher Pearce A source close to Mr Abbott said it was "completely untrue" he had taken an active hand in the Mackellar preselection process.

Malcolm Turnbull said it was very disappointing for Mrs Bishop who has made an "enormous and indelible contribution" to Australian public life. "She has been a magnificent figure on the national stage as a minister, as a member, as a senator, and a Speaker, Bronwyn has been unforgettable," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Canberra on Sunday. Mrs Bishop's media spokesman could not be reached on Sunday but there is speculation she will go public with her view on the so-called choppergate scandal - likely to the detriment of Mr Abbott. The Mackellar preselection has had even wider fallout across the Liberal factions, with some inside the party saying it could threaten the delicate alliance between the moderates and the centre-right. Fairfax Media has confirmed that a deal was struck between those factions to allow Joe Hockey's replacement in North Sydney, Trent Zimmerman, a leading moderate, an unimpeded run at preselection.

The pay off was supposed to be that Mrs Bishop, who was supported by key centre-right powerbroker, Alex Hawke, the Assistant Minister to the Treasurer. Even before Mrs Bishop's 29-year career in Parliament ended on Saturday night, there were texts going around that the factional alliance would implode if she did not prevail. But a separate source said the main damage was to relations within the right. A measure of the depth of feeling between Mr Abbott and Mrs Bishop is that he worked towards installing a Liberal whose views on hot button social issues like same sex marriage are completely at odds with the former prime minister. One Liberal described Mr Falinkski as the "wettest of the wets" in the party.

Mr Falinksi, a former president of the Young Liberals, who once dated Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's daughter Daisy, had not returned calls on Sunday. Over the weekend, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the Mackellar preselection stoush was evidence that the Liberal Party under Mr Turnbull was wracked by in-fighting. "Wherever you look across the Liberal Party, from Mr Turnbull to Mr Morrison to Mr Abbott to Mrs Bishop, the Liberal Party is at war with itself," he said. Loading Attorney-General, George Brandis congratulated Mrs Bishop on Sunday for what he described as a "very substantial political career".

"Bronwyn Bishop has a very secure and honoured place in the Liberal party pantheon. She'll be remembered as one of the great warriors, a lifelong warrior, for the Liberal cause."