SOME of Tony Abbott’s most strident supporters could lose their ministries should the Prime Minister be removed in a partyroom vote next week.

Their fates are tied up with Mr Abbott’s and they would be at the mercy of the new leader should there be a ballot for the Liberal leadership.

That in part explains why they have been championing him against backbench rebels. A new leader would require a new Cabinet and the casualty list could be extensive.

It potentially would include Treasurer Joe Hockey, Education Minister Christopher Pyne, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, and Defence Minister Kevin Andrews.

And the big question would be on the next step for Mr Abbott himself: Into a new ministry or out of Parliament altogether?

Mr Abbott is a pragmatist and loyal to the Liberal Party and it is strongly doubted he would attempt to sabotage a new prime minister in a manner many Labor MPs believe Kevin Rudd did to Julia Gillard after she removed him.

Winners could include Social Services Minister Scott Morrison, who might be moved to the Treasurer’s post, while Foreign Minister Julie Bishop could have greater power to name her portfolio.

There might also be an overhaul of the Nationals’ hierarchy, with party leader and Transport Minister Warren Truss — who has been ill recently — moving aside for Primary Industry Minister Barnaby Joyce.

The leadership ballot is no certainty.

There is no evidence any minister wants to challenge Mr Abbott, nor that the numbers are there for a showdown when the Liberals return to Canberra with Parliament Tuesday.

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the strongest candidate to replace Mr Abbott, last night said: “There is no tension between Tony and any of his senior colleagues.”

However, Mr Abbott’s authority within the party has been badly damaged and a significant number of backbenchers have lost patience with his leadership style and record. And with the performance of some ministers.

The Budget of last May is still a big political and economic problem for the government and Mr Hockey might be moved by a new leader, perhaps to Social Services. He was Human Services Minister for two and a half years under Prime Minister John Howard.

The painful wrangling over the “price signal” of higher costs for GP visits saw former Health Minister Peter Dutton moved to Immigration, and a new leader might see him endure a further demotion.

The government also has been battered by controversial higher education funding proposals and claims it would force “$100,000 degrees”. Minister Christopher Pyne, the most diligent Abbott spruiker this week, could be moved to allow someone else to handle the issue.

Kevin Andrews was shifted from Social Services to Defence in the recent reshuffle, and might leave Parliament entirely, perhaps to a diplomatic appointment.