Mr Abbott also faced strong criticism from his backbench over the broken promise of future submarine construction in South Australia and on the "captain's call" decision to dump Philip Ruddock as chief whip. On the attack: Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Parliament on Tuesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen In a further sign of the internal discontent now gripping the government, Mr Abbott weathered what one MP called a "cavalcade of complaints" in the meeting with MPs continuing to push back against his "aggressive" style, his method of decision making, and his public presentation. An MP present at the meeting confirmed that two Liberals, Craig Laundy (NSW) and Andrew Laming (Qld), suggested to Mr Abbott that he concentrate on getting the remaining children out of detention rather than attacking Ms Triggs. The MP described Mr Abbott's response as "a complete slap-down", noting that it surprised others at the meeting, and had only fuelled concerns over Mr Abbott's tendency to put "politics over policy".

Fairfax Media has been told by several MPs that Don Randall - the WA MP who seconded the spill motion against Mr Abbott two weeks ago - repeatedly questioned the Prime Minister about the sacking of former chief whip. An MP said it had been "tense" with another calling it "an ugly moment". Mr Abbott was also pressed by South Australian MPs on submarines with Rowan Ramsey warning him he would be breaking an election promise "if the hulls aren't welded" in South Australia. Andrew Southcott adopted a more conciliatory tone, asking for better communication of the Commonwealth's considerable defence acquisition budget being spent in South Australia. But tensions within the Liberal Party show no sign of abating.

One day after a damaging leaked email from the party's honorary treasurer Phil Higginson to executive members, there are claims that federal executive members could "rise up" against Richard Alston, the party's president, and federal director Brian Loughnane unless they implement governance changes recommended by Mr Higginson. A prominent member of the executive said there was a strong feeling of frustration at the "lack of accountability, openness and fairness" within the Liberal's organisational wing. Although the federal Liberal Party's 2013-14 accounts were belatedly signed off by Mr Higginson last week, the executive member said excessive secrecy around the spending of funds remained a big concern. "This issue has been swept under the carpet for years by the previous president (Alan Stockdale) and by the current president (Richard Alston)," the executive member said. "I think Phil Higginson was very polite in what he wrote. If he is not taken seriously, then who knows what else could happen? The executive could get a backbone and rise up." Another executive member described the mood within the party's organisational wing as restless and frustrated. The member said it was obvious to all on the executive that the party's system for managing finances was inadequate and non-transparent.

The member said it was difficult to fathom how the Liberal's federal executive had yet to meet in 2015 given the multitude of problems being faced by the Abbott Government. "The upcoming meeting on March 6 should be very lively," the member said. Follow us on Twitter