Barnett blames Hockey for Abbott failure

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has defended Tony Abbott's leadership by taking a swipe at Joe Hockey.

Mr Barnett said the Prime Minister had been let down by a couple of his colleagues, before singling out the Treasurer.

"I don't think the Treasurer's done a great job and that last budget was flawed and therefore the leader ends up wearing it," Mr Barnett told Perth radio 96fm on Tuesday.

"But look, at the end of the day Australians voted for Tony Abbott to be prime minister."

Mr Abbott, who faced heavy speculation about his future as Liberal leader, has called on coalition MPs to end the criticism and get back to work.

He's ruled out spilling the leadership when federal parliament resumes next week.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop reportedly declined to give Mr Abbott Liberal leader an assurance that she would not challenge when they met in Sydney on Sunday.

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said another leadership aspirant, Malcolm Turnbull, had given his personal assurance he would not challenge.