Tony Abbott's chances of leading the Coalition to the federal election next year have ''diminished quite rapidly'', according to key independent MP Tony Windsor.

In an attack characteristic of the independent's personal views of Mr Abbott, Mr Windsor said former opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull was ''head and shoulders'' above Mr Abbott as an electable leader.

Independent MP Tony Windsor said Malcolm Turnbull is "head and shoulders" above Tony Abbott as an electable leader. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The NSW independent, who faces a stiff challenge by Nationals candidate Richard Torbay for the seat of New England in the next election, said Mr Abbott's tactic of deliberately ''creating chaos'', in order to expose the fragility of the hung parliament, was beginning to unravel.

''I think there was a view six months ago that he would be there irrespective of the tactics that he was using,'' Mr Windsor told ABC radio.