Liberal MP Craig Laundy says too many of his own colleagues are listening to right-wing commentators, warning they risk ending up out of step with mainstream Australia.

The high-profile moderate backbencher said the party had been pushed into toppling Malcolm Turnbull by conservative media voices and this trend could become cemented in Liberal Party policies unless MPs started ignoring what he said were fringe views.

He specifically pointed to commentators “dominating The Australian newspaper and Sky [News] after 6pm”.

Speaking in the wash-up of the massive swing against the Liberal Party in Wentworth, Mr Laundy urged his colleagues not to overemphasise the influence commentators have with voters “and therefore not be scared to stand up for policy positions which they agree with”.