Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull flanked by former Abbott ministers Darren Chester and Kevin Andrews. Credit:Justin McManus Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop also moved to smooth ruffled feathers, dismissing talk of an alternative leadership team made up of her as prime minister and Treasurer Scott Morrison as deputy. But while one rumour had Ms Bishop as a possible alternative to Mr Turnbull, another named her as a key part of the government's problem. Responding to that story, Ms Bishop invited conservative malcontents within the governing parties to discuss any problems with her rather than playing out such grievances in the public realm. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten wrote to Mr Turnbull on Tuesday, co-signing the letter with four of the five House of Representatives crossbench MPs, demanding that the House sit as scheduled on Monday to deal with some 53 bills requiring action.

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen. Credit:Josh Robenstone But there is little chance of that happening. Eager to shift the focus on the government's flagging hopes of recovery under his leadership, the Prime Minister endeavoured to throw the switch to the positive by holding out the hope of income tax cuts for low and middle income earners, although the size and timing of any financial benefits was left unspecified. Crossbench MPs Andrew Wilkie, Rebekha Sharkie, Cathy McGowan, Bob Katter and Adam Bandt. Labor branded that a thought bubble designed to distract from the government's other woes.

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said it was inconsistent with a plan to lift the Medicare levy to help fund the NDIS. "[That] is a fancy way of saying an income tax rise. So somebody on $55,000 for example would be paying $275 a year. Someone on $80,000, $400 a year extra. So for the government to say we want to cut income tax, the first step would be not to proceed with the increase," he said. The government insists the income tax cuts can be afforded along with its ambitious – but deadlocked – company tax cuts plan, without imperilling the 2020-21 surplus trajectory. As government morale slumped, government ministers called on frustrated Coalition MPs to air any concerns internally following an unnamed MP's reported threat to defect to the crossbench unless Mr Turnbull is replaced as leader by someone other than Ms Bishop. The disaffected MP's threat to quit the Coalition next month was reported by conservative News Corp commentator Andrew Bolt.

Ms Bishop said she was not aware of an MP holding these views but would be "very concerned" if it were the case. "If they are thinking that way I'd hope they'd come and talk to me or talk to the Prime Minister about their concerns rather than talking to the media," she said. "If somebody really is concerned, well then, please come and talk to us. My door's always open." Transport Minister Darren Chester, a Nationals MP, questioned any MP for not having "the guts to put your name to it" and said they should get in touch with him. "You've got my mobile number, mate, whoever you are. Give me a call and we'll talk through your issues. But we've got a big agenda, we're delivering everything we said we'd do at the last election," he said.

The former Abbott government minister and known Turnbull critic urged any Coalition MPs to remain in the tent, acknowledged there were issues, but said a Turnbull-Bishop team was preferable to a Shorten-Plibersek government running the country like a trade union. "Look, in relation to all these matters you can change leaders, you can do all sorts of things, but at the end of the day, make sure you don't throw the baby out with the bathwater," he urged. In their joint letter sent to the Prime Minister, the opposition and crossbenchers said "the government has 53 bills before the House of Representatives, all of which could be debated and progressed in the week that you have sought to cancel". The authors list "bills to implement the government's response to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse; bills to establish the Banking Executive Accountability Regime to impose tougher regulations on bank executives; and bills to strengthen anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulation". It is co-signed by Mr Shorten as well as crossbench MPs, Bob Katter (Kennedy), Andrew Wilkie (Dennison), Adam Bandt (Melbourne) and Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo).

Loading Only the Victorian independent Cathy McGowan did not sign. Ms Sharkie, the sole lower house MP elected under the banner of the Nick Xenophon Team, has previously guaranteed supply and confidence to the Turnbull government, but could herself be subject to a High Court reference as part of the dual citizenship fall-out.