In the secret ballot, 39 members voted for a spill and 61 voted against, quashing a potential leadership challenge.

Chief Government Whip Philip Ruddock told reporters in Canberra that the vote was ­properly conducted and decisive.

“The result was very clear,” he said.

“I’m sure, in the context of the matter being clearly resolved, there may well be a discussion about the way in which we should proceed now.”

Senior Liberal and Paterson MP Bob Baldwin told the Mercury that Mr Abbott’s decision to bring the leadership vote forward to Monday, from Tuesday, was the right thing to do.

He said many of his senior frontbench colleagues, including Mr Abbott, needed to improve their communication skills.

“When there is bad news to be delivered you need to explain why that bad news needs to be delivered,” he said.

“You need to take people on the journey with you.

“The Prime Minister said ­himself that [the spill] was as close as you get to a political near-death experience.”

Mr Baldwin said he had become aware of discontent over the party’s leadership before Christmas.

While he would not say specifically how he voted, Mr Baldwin said that, as a member of the executive, had he not supported the executive he would have to resign.

“It is incumbent, not just on the Prime Minister, but the frontbenchers and the backbenchers to work together,” he said.

“You can’t always blame the person at the top.”

Labor Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said the result of the party room vote showed that Mr Abbott’s position as prime minister was untenable.

He said it was a matter of time before the leadership issue returned.

“This morning, 40 per cent of Tony Abbott’s colleagues, including 60 per cent of his backbench, voted to terminate his tenure as prime minister,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“My concern however, is not who leads the Coalition, but rather Tony Abbott’s poorly ­considered and unfair policies. 

“A different leader promoting the same flawed policies will fail to deliver any comfort or confidence in the community.”