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Tony Abbott is challenging Mr Turnbull for the leadership and it's believed Joe Hockey will do the same. (AAP)
Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has attacked his Liberal opponents as wreckers who are destroying the party.
There is a strong feeling within the Opposition that the embattled Mr Turnbull cannot hold onto the leadership when his party votes in a spill on Tuesday.
This morning on Channel Nine he launched an attack on his critics, singling out Nick Minchin and Tony Abbott, calling their strategies "catastrophic" for the party.
"They will not give up until they have bullied and intimidated the majority into agreeing with their position," he said.
"These men are leading us into an electoral catastrophe."
Mr Abbott, Sophie Mirabella, Tony Smith and Senators Minchin and Eric Abetz all quit their portfolios last week, claiming they could not vote for the Government's emissions trading legislation.
Mr Abbott says he is challenging Mr Turnbull for the leadership to turn around the Coalition's backing for the amended emissions scheme.
"The end game is to change the policy. Now [to do that] it looks like that means changing the leader," he said.
"I regret that but if that's what it takes that's what I want to try to do."
So far Mr Turnbull's only leadership opponent is Mr Abbott, but Joe Hockey is under enormous pressure, with many in the party believing he would easily win the contest.
Mr Hockey has not yet said if he will run, but has been under strong pressure to contest the leadership with Queenslander Peter Dutton as his deputy.
It is looking more likely that will happen, with Mr Dutton meeting with Mr Hockey at his Sydney home today.
Turnbull opponents say whoever leads the party should argue to delay the emissions trading scheme.
But Mr Turnbull has said Mr Hockey could not agree to that.
"If Joe was the cuddly, friendly face of the Liberal Party but spouting Nick Minchin's lines, that would destroy him and destroy the party," he told Channel Nine.
"He knows that. He's got too much character to be suckered into that. I will win on Tuesday. I am unbowed.
"Joe Hockey has told me as recently as last night that I have his complete support," he added.
"I am not interested in becoming a mouthpiece or a patsy or a tool for people whose views are completely wrong and are contrary to the best interests of our nation, our planet and indeed the Liberal Party.
"If this issue is not resolved, the climate change war that Nick Minchin and his wreckers have started will continue to destroy the Liberal Party until such time as we are destroyed by Kevin Rudd in an election."
It is understood Mr Hockey is close to making a decision as a group of Liberal MPs works on securing the numbers to oust Mr Turnbull.
Mr Hockey previously said he would not challenge Mr Turnbull and has backed his leader's stance on climate change.
He has even sought advice from former prime minister John Howard over what direction he should take.
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