Cormann says Turnbull triggered Liberal leadership coup

Despite the polls showing a coalition wipe out, Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann, says the government's in a better position to win the next election under Scott Morrison.

Cormann, who's switch from Malcolm Turnbull to Peter Dutton in the leadership showdown was critical, says he wishes "those events hadn't happened", but the former prime minister triggered the coup.

Yesterday's Newspoll had the government ten points behind Labor after preferences, and heading off the political cliff.

At the time of Malcolm Turnbull's execution, the coalition was trailing by only 49-51, effectively dead even leading into a campaign.

But Mathias Cormann said the party room decided Scott Morrison was the best person to win.

He repeated his assertion that Malcolm Turnbull's decision to bring on a snap spill at the party meeting on Tuesday "crystallised a level of division" and made his position "irretrievable".

"It was clear the result that day didn't resolve the leadership of the Liberal Party with sufficient certainty," Mr Cormann said.

Three days later, Mr Dutton moved, as support for Mr Turnbull slid away.

"We did resolve it," he said.

"We made a judgement that Scott Morrison was the best equipped to unite our team and to ensure we are in the strongest possible position to win the next election.

"The person that triggered those events was Malcolm Turnbull. I've said that consistently."

Mr Turnbull last week blamed Mr Cormann and eight others for "blowing up the government" without ever explaining why he was dumped.