What they said about the Lib leadership

LIBERAL LEADERSHIP QUOTES:

"What I think everyone in the party room understands is that the last thing we should do is go anywhere near reproducing the rabble of the Labor years."

- Prime Minister Tony Abbott

"He hasn't made the transition (from opposition leader) to prime minister."

- West Australian Liberal MP Dennis Jensen on the PM

"She was insulted a little, offended a bit, about the idea that she wasn't totally loyal."

- Education Minister Christopher Pyne on Julie Bishop's cabinet declaration of support for the PM.

"I should not be called upon to rule out what I'm clearly not doing."

- Deputy leader Julie Bishop on standing for the leadership if a spill goes ahead.

"I will wait for the party room."

- WA senator Chris Back on the public airing of grievances against the PM.

"It doesn't matter who the leader is, we have to change our systems of engaging with the Australian people."

- Queensland LNP MP Bert van Manen

"There should be no spill - that is the Labor way."

- Queensland LNP senator Ian Macdonald

"I'm pleased that he's looking for ways to improve the government and himself."

- South Australian MP Tony Pasin on the PM

"It would be a mistake to change our country's leader."

- WA MP Melissa Price

"I'm sticking with Tony."

- Facebook message from NSW MP Craig Kelly

"Let's crack on with the task we were elected to do."

- Victorian MP Michael Sukkar

"Sadly the realisation has dawned on politicians that his leadership is terminal and this needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so the party can move on."

- Former Vic premier Jeff Kennett

"We've got nine months to see some significant improvement."

- Anonymous Liberal MP