Choppergate pivotal to Abbott downfall: MP

A Liberal MP who backed a leadership challenge to Tony Abbott earlier this year says Bronwyn Bishop's Choppergate scandal was the pivotal moment in his two year reign.

West Australian backbencher Dennis Jensen told 6PR that the controversy was a "turning point for the electorate".

"The issues around the Bronwyn Bishop affair crystallised people's views," he said.

"The sense that I got was that the public were dealing with it with resignation rather than anger.

"I think they just gave up, they thought, `well that's it'."