What's next for Malcolm Turnbull?

WHAT NEXT FOR THE PRIME MINISTER?

* The prime minister says if a letter being circulated among the Liberal Party calling for a party room meeting to settle the party's leadership fight reaches 43 signatures, he will call the meeting for midday on Friday.

* Mr Turnbull is also awaiting feedback from the Solicitor-General on the eligibility of leadership rival Peter Dutton to sit in the parliament, which is due early on Friday morning.

* If a Liberal Party meeting goes ahead on Friday, Mr Turnbull will invite a spill motion and if is it carried by the party, he will not attempt to be returned as leader.

* He will also leave parliament if he loses the leadership.

* It is not yet clear whether Mr Turnbull would step down immediately or at the next election, but the latter seems more likely. The prime minister believes the Australian public would be "crying out for an election" if the Liberal Party gets a new leader.

* Should Mr Turnbull stick around, he would face the difficult task of rebuilding bridges with Liberal MPs who oppose his leadership, including ministers Mathias Cormann, Mitch Fifield and Michaelia Cash.

* The leadership fight is playing out as the House of Representatives remains adjourned by the government. It will not return until September 10.

* The PM is scheduled to head to South-East Asia next week for trade and security talks.