Investigative reporter Pamela Williams reported in News Corp on Tuesday that a senior member of Mr Turnbull's office told political editor David Speers that the prime minister would not appear in any more leaders' forums or debates for as long as Ms Credlin remained on the payroll. Peta Credlin on the Andrew Bolt report on Monday night. Credit:Sky News Sky News has been contacted for comment but sources have previously told Fairfax Media Ms Credlin's role with Sky had triggered prime ministerial payback. On Monday night, vindicated by Mr Turnbull's disastrous showing in the weekend election, Ms Credlin lashed Mr Turnbull's campaign as lacklustre and said the Liberals urgently needed to address the prime minister's inability to mix with ordinary voters. "I feel justified in putting this out there because, you know what? Everyone's had a crack at me and the advice I gave the prime minister – Tony Abbott – but at least he won an election," Ms Credlin told right-wing commentator Andrew Bolt.

"Arthur Sinodinos, James McGrath, Scott Ryan – they're the ones that were at least in the Senate and kept their seats. Wyatt Roy, Peter Hendy – that collective brains-trust that sat there and undid Tony Abbott, I don't think have been giving the prime minister great advice," she said. Peta Credlin talking to Andrew Bolt. Peter Hendy plotted the September coup at his home in Queanbeyan last year with senators Sinodinos, McGrath, Ryan and Mr Roy. Senator Fifield, who was promoted to Cabinet after the reshuffle, also attended the gathering along with Julie Bishop's chief of staff Murray Hansen. Ms Bishop insists Mr Hansen was sent to observe the proceedings and was not part of the plotting. Senator McGrath clashed with right-wing radio shock jock Alan Jones on the Seven Network's election broadcast, with each accusing each other being captain or chief of the "bedwetters." Ms Credlin labelled Mr Roy "Mr Canberra Games" and said his involvement in the leadership spill had cost him his seat of Longman.

She highlighted that Liberal National Party Member for Petrie, Luke Howarth, looked set to hold onto his ultra marginal Queensland seat because he had avoided the politicking and "worked like a dog" for his electorate. "Next door, 'Mr Canberra Games' Wyatt Roy ends up with an eight per cent swing and the loss of his seat – he had a big buffer and he blew it," Ms Credlin said. Ms Credlin briefly worked as a senior staffer to Malcolm Turnbull when he was leader in 2009. He was replaced by Tony Abbott after the party split on the issue of carbon trading. Ms Credlin became Mr Abbott's chief of staff a short time later and quickly rose to become one of the most powerful figures in the Abbott administration. Asked if Mr Abbott would consider returning to the leadership, Ms Credin asked, "why would he?" She rejected claims she had undermined Mr Turnbull's campaign during the election, saying one of the biggest issues the Coalition had faced was their superannuation policy, which the party released while she was abroad in the UK.

"If they think that I've tried to settle scores, well they ain't seen anything yet," Ms Credlin warned. Speaking on the ABC's Q&A program, Minster for Resources Josh Frydenberg said he was convinced Mr Turnbull was preferred over Mr Abbott and said the election was always going to be close. "Yes I am, the decision was taken in the partyroom ... it was a decisive victory for Malcolm Turnbull and he got us back to a competitive position in the poll," he said. 'I don't think he should stand down at all." Follow Latika Bourke on Facebook