Liberal MP Philip Ruddock has been dumped as as chief whip, angering some Liberals. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
The move has angered many on his backbench and threatens to reopen the leadership question after some who stuck with him revealed they were appalled at the vindictiveness and sheer brutality of the move on Mr Ruddock.
"The PM had my vote on Monday even though he refused to get rid of Peta Credlin [his chief of staff]. He has now lost my vote because he had no right to get rid of Philip Ruddock," one furious backbencher said.
"This is another disastrous call," another MP said.
The Friday afternoon dumping of one of the Liberal Party's most loyal and revered servants threatens to further strain relations in an already divided government and has MPs again discussing Mr Abbott's judgment, his tendency to conflict and the strength of his commitment to establish harmony.
MPs contacted by Fairfax Media questioned the timing of the announcement, with one branding Mr Ruddock's removal "just terrible" at the end a week which was meant to be all about healing.
Another said, "I just can't believe that this is meant to help".
Mr Ruddock, a former NSW moderate who became a Howard government hero among conservatives for his role as a tough immigration minister, is the "father of the house", meaning he is the longest serving lower house MP in Canberra.
He has been a close ally of Mr Abbott and travelled with him for five weeks as an adviser during the 2013 election campaign.
The veteran MP entered Parliament more than 41 years ago, in 1973, during the life of the Whitlam Labor government and has seen the coming and going of numerous administrations since from Malcolm Fraser's Coalition, to the Hawke and Keating Labor governments, the Howard Coalition government, the Rudd and Gillard Labor governments, and finally the Abbott Coalition government.
Mr Ruddock did not return calls for this story but reportedly told the ABC "the position of Whip is in the gift of the leader, and any advice about that position should come from him".
In a statement, Mr Abbott took responsibility for the decision, saying "I have made some changes to the Whip arrangements for the government". In the statement he thanked Mr Ruddock for his "extraordinary contribution to our country, this government and the Liberal Party".
"As Father of the House, Philip has given over four decades of service to the Australian Parliament and the Australian people," he said.
"I look forward to his future contribution to the government and to our country. He remains an important counsellor for Coalition members of Parliament and will continue to serve as Member for Berowra with distinction."
Mr Ruddock will be replaced by Queensland LNP MP Scott Buchholz.
Under the changes, Tasmanian MP Andrew Nikolic has been rewarded with a role as a government Whip. Mr Nikolic has been a vocal supporter of the Prime Minister since entering Parliament at the last election in 2013.
"Andrew has made an outstanding start as a member of Parliament. He has a distinguished military career and will take on this new role with enthusiasm," Mr Abbott said.
As pressure mounted on Mr Abbott's leadership earlier this month, Mr Nikolic wrote to colleagues urging calm and increased loyalty to the Prime Minister.
"I'm struggling to understand how that has happened in the proud team I thought I'd joined," he wrote.
He also rebuked colleague Andrew Laming when the Queensland MP revealed he planned to introduce a private members bill to abolish Mr Abbott's knights and dames honours system.
Mr Laming questioned the promotion of Mr Nikolic after the Tasmanian first cast public doubt on the constitutionality of the propose private members bill last Thursday, and then went to ground failing to back up his claim when they responded.
Mr Laming said the bill, being co-sponsored by fellow Queenslander Warren Entsch had received the legal tick of approval from two eminent constitutional lawyers despite Mr Nikolic's claim.
"How does that exhibit the qualities of a whip who is supposed to exercise respect?" Mr Laming asked.
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