Cabinet ministers are trying to quell new talk of a leadership challenge to Malcolm Turnbull as government MPs threaten to cross the floor on energy policy, pulling the trigger on a wider debate over the Prime Minister’s authority.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann played down speculation about a backbench approach to Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to recruit him as leader to replace Mr Turnbull in a showdown over energy and climate change.

The speculation came after Mr Dutton acknowledged in a radio interview on Thursday that if he did not support a government policy he would have to quit the ministry and move to the backbench.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Credit:Andrew Meares

Senator Cormann, a close friend of Mr Dutton, said the remarks were a statement of fact rather than a signal of intent.