My experience of the John Howard versus Andrew Peacock contest in the 1980s is that once the genie of leadership contest is out of the bottle, it is hard to put it back. You only need one or two backbenchers to wander through the press gallery with a titbit of leadership distraction and the issue will rumble on for months.

Leadership contests are debilitating. Once the leadership is in play everything that happens in the party or government from then on will be assessed through the prism of leadership. Tony Abbott made it very clear on Monday that he will not be going quietly so the party room critics can forget the hope of an easy switch.

Margie and Tony Abbott arrive at the National Press Club on Monday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Abbott suggests he was elected by the people and so he can't be challenged. This is not the approach in Australia or at Westminster and Abbott will be making a mistake if he continues to tell the party room he is immune to party authority. Admittedly an appeal over the heads of the people is not unknown but it's not worth much unless the PM has strong public support.

Abbott's critics will surely be whispering that the public will be relieved by his departure, while some cabinet ministers will be saying Abbott has been more of a hindrance rather than being the PM who makes the cabinet ministers look good as he claimed last weekend.