Senior MPs rally behind Tony Abbott amid leadership speculation; future of paid parental leave in doubt

Updated

Senior government figures are rallying behind Tony Abbott as speculation about the Prime Minister's future intensifies.

Coalition MPs are continuing to express dismay at the Government's performance under Mr Abbott's leadership, particularly his recent decision to award a knighthood to Prince Philip.

Meanwhile, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has outlined the qualities of a good leader in a speech in the United States.

Speaking to reporters in Geelong, the Prime Minister said he was continuing to do the job Australian voters elected him to do.

"Look, the public elected the Government, the public elected a Prime Minister," he said.

"I will spend myself in the service of the Australian people."

Parliamentary Secretary Steve Ciobo said he had not received any calls from colleagues discussing the Prime Minister's future.

"I don't believe that Julie Bishop or Malcolm Turnbull are phoning anybody," he said.

"There's some speculation by some media commentators and no doubt there's some disaffected members and the Labor Party is doing everything it can do, as you'd expect an opposition to do to fan fuels and fan gossip."

In a speech to the US-Australia Dialogue conference in Los Angeles, Mr Turnbull underlined the importance of strong leaders

"Leaders must be decision makers, but they must also be, above all, explainers and advocates, unravelling complex issues in clear language that explains why things have to change and why the Government too cannot solve every problem," he said.

More to say on parental leave in coming days: PM

The Prime Minister's office has refused to say whether Mr Abbott's signature paid parental leave (PPL) policy could soon be dumped, insisting changes to the controversial scheme were still being finalised.

The contentious $20 billion scheme that Mr Abbott has taken to two elections is unpopular among many MPs in the Coalition party room.

Government sources said the PPL policy was continuing to be fine-tuned, with the Government looking to do more to improve childcare access and affordability in a new families package.

Treasurer Joe Hockey told reporters on Friday the cost of the policy was being taken into account.

"We've got to be able to fund whatever families package we have and I'm working with the new minister in that regard and obviously with the Prime Minister," Mr Hockey said.

Mr Abbott is putting the final touches on his much-anticipated address next week to the National Press Club in Canberra.

He will use Monday's speech to outline the Government's priorities for the year ahead, which will focus on jobs and families.

The Prime Minister side-stepped questions about the specifics of the PPL scheme, telling reporters he was continuing to fine-tune it.

"Look, I said before Christmas, we'd be scaling it back ... I'll have a bit more to say on PPL in the next day or so," he said.

Morrison 'continuing' discussions with PM

The ABC has been told a final decision was yet to be made on whether to delay the planned start date for the PPL scheme, which Mr Abbott had promised would begin in his first term.

On Thursday, Social Services Minister Scott Morrison said he was continuing discussions with the Prime Minister about the policy.

"Every measure I'm looking at has to pass one test: does it improve participation in the workforce, does it get people involved? I'm having a very close look at that," Mr Morrison told Macquarie Radio.

"The Prime Minister and I have obviously had a lot of discussions about how we take our families package forward and we'll continue to work on that."

Mr Ciobo said the Coalition was focused on being financially responsible.

"We said we wanted to restore the nation's finances, now that's the biggest challenge that we've got. That's what we're trying to undertake," he said.

"Ultimately whatever the Prime Minister decides and collectively the Coalition decides in relation to each specific policy, it will be on the basis of what we believe to be in the national interest and what's affordable."

Topics: carers, community-and-society, family-and-children, babies---newborns, child-care, babies, parenting, women, work, federal-government, liberals, social-policy, australia

First posted