Tony Abbott has issued a pointed warning to his frontbench: stop leaking on internal processes and focus on party policy.

The prime minister had a “full and frank discussion” with cabinet ministers on Monday and used the party room meeting to remind his colleagues that breaching cabinet processes will have consequences.

But Abbott stopped short of saying that the leaks were damaging to the government.

In response to a question from a colleague on the privilege of being on the frontbench, Abbott said the cabinet members had a “come to Jesus” moment when they realised the implications of breaching protocol.

The statement was well-received by the party room, prompting cheers and comments of “hear, hear”.

Abbott’s rebuke comes after Fairfax published a detailed report of disagreement within the cabinet on a proposal that the immigration minister be able to strip sole nationals of their Australian citizenship if they are suspected of taking part in terrorism offences.



The proposal, which has the backing of Abbott, immigration minister Peter Dutton and his predecessor in the portfolio, Scott Morrison, would only see citizens stripped of their nationality if they are eligible to claim the citizenship of another country.

Five cabinet heavyweights, including deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop, communications minister Malcolm Turnbull and attorney general George Brandis, raised concerns over the legislation, saying it circumvents the rule of law.

But a large number of backbenchers have pushed for the proposal, which is currently part of a discussion paper on citizenship. Forty-four backbenchers have signed a letter calling on the prime minister to take a more hardline approach on sole citizens who are accused of terrorism offences.

The proposal to strip dual nationals of their Australian citizenship is not contested and legislation is expected to be introduced into parliament shortly.

During question time on Tuesday, Abbott evaded questions on the cabinet leaks, instead spruiking the government’s credentials on national security.

He said citizenship was a privilege that should be revoked if it is not valued.

“Anyone who raises a gun or a knife to Australians simply because of who we are and the values we have has forfeited his or her right to consider himself one of us,” he said.