Labor leader Bill Shorten has sought to move a no confidence motion in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

"This house should vote for no confidence because the prime minister has no authority, no power, and no policies," Mr Shorten told parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Turnbull survived a Liberal leadership spill 48-35 earlier in the day, seeing off a challenge from former cabinet colleague Peter Dutton.

Mr Shorten gave four reasons for supporting the motion: a lack of support in the Liberal party room, the failure of the government's energy policy, the prime minister's surrendering of belief to conservatives in his ranks and a lack of focus on fundamental issues of importance to the Australian people.

"I say to Australians who were shocked by the turmoil in this government, it is not over until the member for Dickson (Mr Dutton) has the scalp of the prime minister hanging from his belt," Mr Shorten said.

Mr Turnbull responded with attacks on Mr Shorten's record as a union leader, accusing him of doing secret deals with employers to sell out cleaners on penalty rates.

He also detailed the record job growth under the coalition, with Australia having stronger economic growth than any G7 country.

"We are standing up for Australian families - the Australian workers that the leader of the opposition abandoned in his union career and now abandoned in this chamber," Mr Turnbull told parliament.

Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said Mr Turnbull led a "Frankenstein's monster" of a government.

"It has the face of the member for Wentworth (Mr Turnbull), the policies of the member for Warringah (Tony Abbott), and it has the cold, shrivelled soul of the member for Dickson (Mr Dutton)," Ms Plibersek said.

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