Coalition MPs back Abbott and his chief of staff amid sacking calls

Cabinet ministers have rushed to Prime Minister Tony Abbott's defence as criticism continues over his decision to knight Prince Phillip.

Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt is one of the Prime Minister's biggest supporters, and the latest commentator to turn on Mr Abbott over what has been dubbed the "nightmare knighthood".

"I think it could be fatal for his leadership, not tomorrow but in time," he said.

If Mr Abbott thinks the hostile treatment by the media is unfair, his own words have come to haunt him.

"If you want better coverage, be a better government," he said in August 2013.

Ministers have also stepped in to defend the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Peta Credlin amid calls for her sacking, most notably from News Corporation chief Rupert Murdoch.

"We are as a team very much a team and in support of Peta," Health Minister Sussan Ley said.

"She is a terrific asset to the Liberal Party and a terrific asset to the Prime Minister's office."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also defended Ms Credlin.

"Tony Abbott's mistakes are Tony Abbott's mistakes," he said.

"Peta Credlin is not the person who should be carrying the blame for the mistakes of the Abbott government."

Republican Malcolm Turnbull said a lot about the knighthood without saying too much.

"I think you can use your imagination for that," he said.

But Mr Turnbull said he did not want to weigh in on the leadership unrest.

Political insiders said there is still no talk of any move against Mr Abbott for the leadership but backbenchers have been talking to each other and weighing their options since late last year.

The next few weeks are said to be critical for the Prime Minister.