Turnbull won the secret ballot 48 votes to 35.

Earlier opposition whip Michael Johnson said former Howard government minister Kevin Andrews would stand against Mr Turnbull.

It will be a two horse race, with the offices of Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey and fellow frontbencher they will not contest the leadership.

The decision to hold the extraordinary meeting follows yesterday's bitter partyroom meeting over the deal offered by the government on the emissions trading scheme.

Mr Turnbull angered many by declaring the ETS deal had Opposition support.

Federal MPs Wilson Tuckey and Dennis Jensen wrote to Mr Turnbull calling for a leadership spill.

Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella, said this morning that as a member of the Shadow Ministry, she endorsed the partyroom decision made yesterday.

Asked to comment on Mr Turnbull's leadership, she said "I have made a habit of not canvassing leadership issues in the media and I will continue to do so".

"I'm not going to speculate on the leadership."