Senior ministers believe a cabinet leak that revealed the Turnbull government considered reversing its opposition to a banking royal commission was designed to damage Malcolm Turnbull, Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton and create chaos in the government.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull once again slammed the door shut on a banking royal commission on Wednesday, while Treasurer Scott Morrison admitted "that cabinet from time to time would consider these sorts of issue".

Reports of the leak suggested Mr Turnbull and Mr Dutton canvassed a shift to support the inquiry, whereas Mr Morrison argued against the move. Cabinet ministers contacted by Fairfax Media were furious about the leak to News Corp, with one suggesting "someone is trying to create tensions between us that are not there" and another insisting "there is no animosity in cabinet".

A second cabinet minister said it was correct some ministers had canvassed dropping the government's opposition to an inquiry - and that it would have been extraordinary had it not been discussed, given a push for the inquiry from the Nationals - but the discussion had actually been "workman-like and calm".