Julie Bishop met with Abbott over Hockey's performance: reports
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. (AAP) AAP
Tony Abbott is standing by his comment that no minister has ever approached him about dumping Treasurer Joe Hockey, despite a report Julie Bishop did just that before Christmas.
The Sunday telegraph reports that senior government sources have confirmed that late last year the foreign minister told Mr Abbott his personal popularity would rise if he removed Mr Hockey from the frontbench.
The advice was ignored, and Mr Abbott narrowly avoided facing a leadership spill two months later.
Mr Abbott has repeatedly denied holding meetings on Mr Hockey's future, most recently on Monday.
"The prime minister stands by his comments," a spokesman for Mr Abbott told AAP on Sunday.
Ms Bishop said Sunday's report appeared to be "just rehashing an old story".
"I don't comment on that kind of gossip," she told the Seven Network.
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