Seven ministers who voted for Tony Abbott in the failed spill motion are now prepared to help remove the Prime Minister if he cannot revive the government's fortunes and recover his position in the polls.

The ministers have discussed the timing of any potential move on the Prime Minister, and favour waiting until June – after next month's NSW state election and the May budget.

Mr Abbott has attempted in the last fortnight to put the spill motion, which failed 61-39, behind him by shifting the government's focus to national security, childcare and the budget.

But he has been hit by a damaging series of leaks and, behind the scenes, discussions are now under way in the ministry about how much time the party should give him to turn the situation around.