While Tony Abbott is in New Zealand spruiking his national security plans , it looks like the security of his job as Prime Minister is , for the second time this month , in question . As he remains 'undistracted and undeterred by the hyperventilating which seems to be taking place at least amongst the media ' , Liberal backbenchers have reportedly given Mr Turnbull the go ahead saying he has the numbers for a successful spill . But they 've said the move would have to be initiated by senior ministers from the Cabinet . Since these reported emerged on Saturday , supporters of Ms Bishop have claimed the Foreign Affairs Minister is against the move however she would stand against Mr Turnbull if the spill were to eventuate . Scroll down for video . Speculation has been rife about a second leadership challenge - less than three weeks since Mr Abbott ( front ) survived a spill motion - as Mr Turnbull ( right ) has reportedly been told by MPs that he has the numbers to beat the Prime Minister . However it is believed Ms Bishop ( left ) is against another spill motion but will stand against Mr Turnbull if it goes ahead . Ms Bishop publically backed Mr Abbott on Saturday saying she supported the 'the leader that the party has elected ' . ' I am not aware of any attempt to bring a spill motion to challenge the leadership . ' Ms Bishop is n't alone with rumours that Trade Minister , Andrew Robb , is vying for the role , however , Mr Robb has also publically backed Abbott , saying he had earned the right to contest the next election . Senior cabinet ministers claim Mr Robb has labelled the Communications Minister as 'not conservative enough ' to lead the party , reports the Daily Telegraph . Trade Minister , Andrew Robb , stands by Mr Abbott claiming Mr Turnbull is n't conservative enough to lead the party . Reports say although a significant group of frontbenchers are publicly loyal to the Prime Minister , many admit behind closed doors , he will not make the next election . They argue that party polling suggests the Prime Minister is 'toxic ' and will drag Mr Baird 's vote in NSW by up to seven per cent in some key seats . With a state election looming and the party rife with the same instability that was Labor 's undoing , some ministers are claiming the Prime Minister is 'toxic ' and will drag Mike Baird 's vote in NSW by up to seven per cent in some key seats . Ms Bishop ( left ) and Mr Abbott ( right ) have been fielding questions about the leadership challenge while in New Zealand for the annual Australia-New Zealand leaders ' meeting . Communications Minister , Malcom Turnbull , has been told he has the numbers to take leadership in a spill motion . Mr Turnbull has chosen to stay tight lipped about the speculation , instead focusing his and the media 's attention on the upcoming election . 'The question the people of New South Wales have is do they want to put back into power the party of Eddie Obeid , ' said Mr Turnbull . Federal MP Bob Katter chimed in , likening the Liberal Party to a 'pit of snakes ' . 'If you 've got no belief system and what you 've got is a pit of snakes , that 's all you 've got , ' he told the Nine Network . 'Everyone wants to be leader , everyone wants to be in the ministry . 'It would be really nice if the LNP put some people in government who are interested in governing the country , instead of being interested in getting promoted into a ministry or from the ministry into leadership positions . ' Speculation is rife in Canberra about what could be a second spill in a month as more Liberal MPs are believed to have joined the 39 out of 102 who supported a spill motion on February 9 .
Tony Abbott has been questioned in New polls about leadership challenge this campaign . Julie Bishop still publically backs Abbott but says she will put her hand up if a crisis eventuates . MP 's announcement to Malcom confirms that he has the numbers for a sucessful challenge . Trade Minister , Andrew Robb , stands by Mr ##bull claiming that Turnbull is n't conservative enough to lead the campaign .