Australian PM dismisses rumors of leadership challenge

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott dismissed speculation about another challenge to his leadership on Friday after many of his fellow Liberal politicians claimed he did not have the numbers to rule the party.

Ministers have told the local media they believed Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull now had the numbers to win a challenge and should use them. A motion to vote for a change of prime minister was held earlier this month and was defeated 39 to 61.

Abbott was touring Rockhampton in Queensland, which was damaged by cyclone Marcia, and told reporters he was confident in running government.

The prime minister said rumors about a spill was just "insider gossip".

"I am just getting on with government. I'm not going to be distracted and none of my ministers are going to be distracted," he told reporters.

"Other people can obsess about this kind of insider gossip, but I'm certainly not going to.

"Frankly it rather diminishes the pain of the people of this part of central Queensland when their difficulties are intruded upon by this kind of Canberra nonsense," said Abbott. Endi