But the margin of the party-room vote — 61-39 — was not emphatic enough to ensure Mr. Abbott’s long-term future as prime minister.

Given that none of Mr. Abbott’s colleagues had put their name forward as a leadership candidate, the vote effectively meant 39 Liberal Party MPs voted for no particular individual, just as a protest against the prime minister’s embattled leadership.

Many commentators and political pundits felt Mr. Abbott needed a vote in the high 40s if he was to safely see off this internal party-room challenge to his leadership.

Keywords: Sri Lanka news, Liberal Party, Tony Abbott, Australia