A senior Liberal said the MPs would not have the support for the motion to be successful but it was designed to weaken Ms Berejiklian's leadership and direct anger at government MPs and ministers involved in the process, including Health Minister Brad Hazzard. Loading Mrs Davies had threatened to go to the crossbench if "sensible" amendments were not made to the bill, along with her colleague Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly. But rather than quit, she said they would call a spill motion against the Premier. "We have come to the conclusion that the right course of action is not to leave the Parliamentary Liberal Party but to hold the Premier to account for presiding over this shameful process," the MPs said in a statement.

"We have also been alarmed by the Premier’s continued failure to address the impasse in the Legislative Council which has slowly ground the government’s legislative agenda to dust. "This position is also untenable and must be urgently resolved for the good government of this state." Mr Mason-Cox has also attacked Ms Berejiklian's handling of the bill and last week joined a group of cross-party MPs from the upper house who proposed a raft of amendments. Their statement said that three weeks ago it had been "made clear" to the Premier and government that, at "an absolute minimum", four key amendments were required to "ensure continued membership of the Liberal Party room". "We have respectfully and consistently requested the Premier to urgently intervene to restore proper process by stopping the fast tracking of the abortion bill and immediately establishing a joint select committee into abortion law reform in NSW," the statement says.

Tanya Davies MP, Lou Amato MLC, Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Matthew Mason-Cox MLC (left to right). Credit:SMH "These requests have been rejected." On Monday night, Deputy Premier John Barilaro was one of several senior Coalition ministers to declare his support for the Premier. "This is ridiculous. Our Coalition agreement is with Gladys and any move would be a dumb move," the Nationals leader tweeted.

Attorney General Mark Speakman also backed the Premier, tweeting "I support GladysB. Delivering the strongest economy in Oz, the lowest unemployment, double Labor's infrastructure, all with no net debt, all setting us up to deliver stronger social outcomes this term. "That's strong leadership" Loading Transport Minister, Andrew Constance, also tweeted "No, not running #comical" and Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the Premier "has my full support as NSW Liberal leader". Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, touted as a future premier, also threw his support behind the Premier, tweeting: "Gladys is the people's choice as Premier and I support her as our leader".