Mr Abbott was ousted two years after returning the Coalition to office. His successor, Malcolm Turnbull, is now campaigning to win his first election as prime minister. Eden-Monaro MP Peter Hendy appears to have been the target of a fake text-message marketing campaign. Credit:Rohan Thomson Mr Hendy was one of the key plotters in the coup, hosting the final meeting of MPs including Liberal senators Mitch Fifield, James McGrath, Scott Ryan and Arthur Sinodinos, all of whom were promoted by Mr Turnbull after his own elevation. The Menzies Group is a small group, formed initially as a protest against the sitting Liberal Senator for the ACT, Zed Seselja, after he successfully challenged Gary Humphries for preselection in 2013. The email claimed the Canberra Liberals had withdrawn "support" for Mr Hendy's campaign in the crucial seat.

"Normally the Canberra Liberals would organise support for the Eden-Monaro campaign, but soon after the change of prime minister last year, a conservative commentator revealed on air that he had it on good authority that would not happen this election," the email said. Some in the party are reportedly angry about Mr Hendy's role in removing Mr Abbott. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "That may have been the result of a heat of the moment dummy spit by a conservative power broker," the email adds. But Fairfax Media understands there is no formal agreement exists to donate campaign funds across the border and share volunteers. Mike Kelly, former Labor MP for Eden-Monaro, who is recontesting the seat. Credit:Rohan Thomson

For his part, Mr Hendy says he has "strong support" from the ACT Liberals including Senator Seselja, who supported Mr Abbott. "There are a large number of ACT Liberals supporting the Eden-Monaro campaign," Mr Hendy said. "The volunteer network from Eden-Monaro, which is by far the largest component of our campaign, is as strong as ever." Last week, Seven News claimed to have obtained internal Liberal Party polling which showed Mr Hendy in danger of losing his seat. Mark Textor, from the Liberal party's official pollster Crosby-Textor told Fairfax Media the report was false as his firm had not delivered any polling to the party showing the figures claimed.