The Health Minister issued a brief statement late yesterday but avoided the issue of whether or not she supported a spill.

“Continuing strong and stable government is an imperative for me, vital for the people I represent, and something we need to display to keep the confidence of those who elected us,” she said.

Ms Ley was promoted from the junior ministry in December by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Albury MP Greg Aplin refused to comment on the federal leadership crisis, and would not offer support to Mr Abbott, but his cross-border counterpart Benambra MP Bill Tilley, came out in full support of the PM and said it was for voters to decide who should lead the party.

The NSW Liberal Party has reportedly urged a quick resolution out of concern it will affect its re-election campaign.

The federal government’s ongoing policy woes and Mr Abbott’s declining popularity, according to published opinion polls, has already been cited as partly to blame for Coalition losses in Queensland and Victoria.

But Mr Aplin brushed aside questions on the issue, saying he was “not prepared to get distracted by other matters”.

“I’m not getting involved in federal politics, I’m totally concerned with getting Mike Baird and the Coalition re-elected in NSW,” he said.

“I’m not following it at all, I’m concentrating on my work... my focus is delivering for Albury.”

Mr Tilley, however, was blunt.

“Tony Abbott is the Prime Minister, he was elected to be Prime Minister and I think he should continue to lead the government,” he said.

“When a party room picks its leader and puts that to a vote, that should stand until the electors and umpires make a decision to the contrary.”

The previous Victorian Coalition government — ousted in November after one term — underwent its own leadership problems with the replacement of Ted Baillieu by Denis Napthine mid-term.

Mr Tilley said this had contributed to his government’s defeat.