Dutton urging colleagues to get behind his leadership rival

Leadership rival, Peter Dutton, is urging Liberal colleagues to get behind Scott Morrison, saying the voters have given the prime minister "early marks" for taking decisive action on a series of issues. 

As the Home Affairs Minister faces another testing week in parliament, he brushed aside questions about his eligibility. 

Mr Dutton said his own legal advice found he has "no prospect of having difficulty" and he doesn't "have a concern", despite an on-going Labor threat to try to have him referred to the High Court. 

And he dismissed suggestions supporters of Malcolm Turnbull might abstain, or back any motion to have him referred. 

"These issues are being pursued for political purposes," Mr Dutton said. 

"Nothing was said about it until the week of the leadership challenge. 

"I'll let people draw their own conclusion why it re-surfaced." 

It was Mr Turnbull who asked for, and received inconclusive advice from the Solicitor-General, into his rival's status. 

Asked about any recrimination from colleagues, Mr Dutton said his message was to "get behind Scott Morrison", after the latest Fairfax-Ipsos poll found him more popular than Bill Shorten, but the government likely to be swept from office at the next election. 

"People have made up their minds about Bill Shorten," the minister said. 

"They don't like him. They think he's dodgy. He's two-faced.

"He's not credible. He's not a person to be trusted.

"People have looked at Scott Morrison, seen him to be down to earth person and people have given Scott Morrison early marks. 

"The Liberal Party will combined together now to make sure we get behind Scott Morrison now." 

And, he said he has a "very good relationship" with Julie Bishop, who last week appeared to leave the door open to supporting any move to refer him to the High Court. 

Mr Dutton refuted that the former Foreign Minister had raised that possibility.