FROM rumours of a leadership spill to an extraordinary energy policy backflip, it’s been a rough Monday for the government.

But Treasurer Scott Morrison has refused to concede that Malcolm Turnbull’s position is under threat.

Appearing on ABC’s 7.30 — after Mr Turnbull declined the interview request — Mr Morrison was directly asked whether there was a “legitimate threat” to the Prime Minister’s leadership.

“I don’t believe so, and the reason for that is we’re getting on with the job and just announced another big change in terms of going forward with the ACCC,” he responded.

“That doesn’t mean there’s not a leadership threat,” fired back anchor Leigh Sales.

“Well no one’s calling me about it.”

For the next few minutes, Sales repeatedly asked the Treasurer where the source of the destabilisation is coming from, but he refused to offer up any suggestions, saying: “I don’t know. I would have to ask you and the media who are reporting it.

“Whoever is talking to the papers would know the answer to that question, but I wouldn’t. Clearly, some people are talking to each other and they are talking to the media, so that’s just obvious.”

Asked again why he thought there were rumours of a leadership spill, he said: “I don’t know because I’m not part of it. You would have to ask them.”

Trying a different angle, Sales asked what effect a leadership change would have on the government’s support.

Mr Morrison responded at length by saying he didn’t anticipate a challenge.

“That’s not exactly what I asked,” an exasperated Sales eventually interjected.

Sales went on to ask him why the Prime Minister “drastically” changed his energy policy twice, if his leadership was stable.

“I wouldn’t describe it as drastic changes. The policy remains as we took it to the party room with improvements,” said the Treasurer. “We were working through these issues with our colleagues, and at the end of the day what became clear is in the absence of bipartisan support for this policy... we wouldn’t have been able to get it through the House of Representatives.”

This morning, Mr Turnbull announced he would remove the target from the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) policy, as it doesn’t have enough support to be passed.

“It’s clear that in the absence of bipartisan support, the legislation to move forward the emissions component of the National Energy Guarantee will not be able to pass the House of Representatives,” he told reporters.

DUTTON’S POLITICAL FUTURE UNDER THREAT

Amid mounting speculation over Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership, a new report has cast doubt on Peter Dutton’s political future.

Constitutional law experts say the Home Affairs Minister could be disqualified from parliament over his business interests, Ten Eyewitness News reported.

In his parliamentary register of interest, Mr Dutton lists himself as a beneficiary of RHT Family Trust — along with his wife and children.

According to ASIC documents, the business owns two child care centres in northern Brisbane.

Under a law change Mr Dutton voted for, those centres have been receiving direct subsidies from the government since July 2 this year.

But Ten notes that, under Section 44(v) of the Constitution, any person with “any direct or indirect pecuniary interest with the Public Service of the Commonwealth” is disqualified from Parliament.

In April last year, the High Court ruled that then Family First Senator Bob Day was not validly elected to parliament, due to his breaching Section 44.

The Commonwealth had leased the office space at a building he owned in order to house his electorate office, the ABC reported.

Mr Day transferred the property to a family friend, but documents revealed there was an agreement that proceeds from the rent would go to a company he owned.

A spokesman for Mr Dutton told Ten: “Mr Dutton’s legal advice clearly states there is no breach of Section 44.”

But, if the case is referred by parliament, it could become a matter for the High Court to decide.

In a worst-case scenario for Mr Dutton, this may not just keep him out of the top job — it may bar him from parliament altogether.

Sydney University professor of constitutional law Anne Twomey told Fairfax Media disqualification is not out of the question.

“I do think there is a danger for him,” she said. “I think there is a reasonable case for his disqualification but he also has a reasonable defence. It is a real case and I would describe it as borderline.”

Asked about the reports on ABC radio this evening, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said standard procedures should be followed.

“If there is enough evidence, then the matter needs to be referred to the High Court,” he said.

“This process will no doubt follow the other processes that have happened in the past with all the section 44 issues about various members.

“There is a way, a method, a process, protocols that need to be followed. I’m sure they’ll be followed in the usual way.

“Those protocols will be followed through, they always are, but let’s see how that unfolds.”

Meanwhile Hugh Riminton, the journalist who broke the story, has dismissed suggestions it was leaked to him by a Liberal Party member.

“We’ve been watching percuniary interest matters with federal parliamentarians for a long time,” he told The Project, noting his coverage of a similar story about Turnbull backbencher Barry O’Sullivan last year.

“The timing of all this talk of leadership issues is coincidental,” said Hugh. “Many people won’t believe thatm but its true.”

Asked about the future of Mr Turnbull’s leadership, Riminton said that — while the PM is “certainly in all kinds of trouble” — the fact that there is no sitting next week will give him some breathing space.

TURNBULL UNDER SERIOUS THREAT

The explosive report follows speculation around the future of the Prime Minister’s leadership.

READ MORE: Turnbull faces serious threat of leadership challenge

Ministers gathered for an emergency meeting at Parliament House last night, where discussions focused on the controversial National Energy Guarantee (NEG) — which promises to slap penalties on overcharging power companies.

But the real action may have been happening on the phones.

According to The Australian, multiple MPs called Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton over the weekend to promise their support, should he choose to challenge Mr Turnbull for the leadership.

“It is now almost inevitable, the question is timing,” one senior minister told the paper.

It also reported that Tony Abbott told a Young Liberals meeting over the weekend he was looking forward to serving under a “Dutton government”.

Mr Dutton was late to last night’s emergency meeting, reportedly because his flight was delayed.

It’s understood he missed the dinner, but arrived later at Parliament House after taking a VIP flight from Brisbane, the Courier-Mail reported.

A horror Fairfax/Ipsos poll released overnight, which showed support for the government plunging.

According to the poll, the Coalition’s primary vote has dropped from 39 to 33 in just one month, and Labor now leads 55-45 on the two-party preferred measure.

Mr Turnbull’s support as preferred prime minister dived from 57 to 48, with Bill Shorten’s rating improving by six points to 36 per cent.