Leadership talk just rubbish, says PM

Tony Abbott has made light of the latest round of leadership speculation as recycled rubbish.

Speaking to reporters at a Clean Up Australia Day event on NSW's south coast, the prime minister played down reports he could face another leadership spill this week.

"This is Clean Up Australia Day, and I'm just not going to do anything but recycle the rubbish," he joked.

"And that's what's happening, we're just recycling rubbish today."

Mr Abbott is facing reports that a majority of Liberal MPs and senators now want to dump him, with Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull touted as challengers.

"Frankly, I think the people of Australia are sick of the insider obsessions of people in Canberra," he said.