 Hockey attempted to resolve his dilemma by declaring that as leader he would allow a conscience vote on the ETS legislation . Abbott rejected Hockey 's declaration , and reneged on his earlier indication that he would withdraw his candidacy for Hockey . Abbott stated : " It now seems pretty clear we could change the leader to Joe and these offensive bills could still go through the Parliament " . On Hockey 's candidacy , Turnbull claimed that Hockey had pledged his opposition to the spill motion . However , it was expected that if the spill motion succeeded , Hockey would stand for the leadership against Turnbull and Abbott . Hockey was generally expected to win the ballot and become leader . To the end , Turnbull refused to stand aside as leader , insisting he would defeat the spill motion . Hockey later alleged that Turnbull had promised he would not stand against Hockey if the spill motion was successful . Turnbull denied that he had given , and therefore broken , any such undertaking . 
