Christian group rallies to backs Abbott

The conservative Christian lobby has speedily put together an email campaign to bombard MPs with messages of support for Tony Abbott.

David Phillips, national director of FamilyVoice Australia said Mr Abbott wasn't perfect but he had consistently upheld man-woman marriage in the Liberal party room.

But under Malcolm Turnbull, a conscience vote on marriage would be highly likely at some point and that would open the way for more MPs to defect to the same-sex marriage camp.