Don't be like Labor, keep Tony: LNP head

Liberal National Party president Bruce McIver has urged Queensland MPs who are fed up with Tony Abbott to be patient and keep their mouths shut or risk going down the path of Labor.

The prime minister could face a challenge as early as next week after three of his MPs publicly broke ranks to disavow their leader.

A line-up of Queensland MPs including Mal Brough, Andrew Laming and Teresa Gambaro have also expressed doubts in recent days about Mr Abbott's capability in the top job.

Mr McIver said he'd spoken to some of the disgruntled members personally but made a request for calm heads, and criticism kept in-house, in the midst of leadership speculation.

"They're saying what Queenslanders are saying, that they want to see some change," Mr McIver told ABC Radio.

"(But) we're not like the Labor Party, we don't go and throw out our leaders when the tide goes out or things get a bit rough."

Mr Abbott had already begun tweaking his approach to be more consultative, he said.

He said party members and voters alike needed to "tread carefully" during this process to make sure they didn't make rash decision that might backfire in the long term.

"I know people are upset - right across Queensland people are upset," he said.

"(But) I think that we've got to make sure that we keep stability in the federal government."

After Saturday's inconclusive Queensland election, Mr McIver also confessed Mr Abbott's decision to knight Prince Philip during the state election campaign was "no good" for the premier's bid for re-election.

For his part, the prime minister has put leadership rumours down to the "robust" nature of the Liberals' party room.