While Mr Rudd remains the most effective political "white anter" this nation has produced to date, it is starting to look like a close run thing.

On current form the former Liberal PM, whose performance as opposition leader was credited with destroying the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd prime ministerships, may soon bring down another government.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on where you stand, it is Mr Abbott's own party's tenuous grip on power that is under threat.

By constantly belittling his own leader and second guessing cabinet decisions now well above his pay grade, Australia's best known back bencher is giving Bill Shorten a very easy ride to the lodge.

Just as the last Labor government managed to self-destruct thanks to the bitter rivalries and factionalism that erupted during its first term, the Coalition is in the process of doing the same.

Australians are expressing their lack of enthusiasm for a conservative remake of the Kevin and Julia show by using every opinion poll as an opportunity to vent their lack of support for any of the major political parties.

Both Labor and the Liberals have shown much more skill at destroying their own leaders than in dealing with the many, and significant, economic, social and foreign affairs challenges confronting Australia.

It is no wonder voters are turning to once minor parties such as the Greens and One Nation despite the fact both have their own internal issues to sort out.

Mr Abbott has made it impossible for the Turnbull Government to reach out to the electoral middle ground by acting as a lightning rod for a conservative coalition rump that is demonstrably out of touch with the views of a majority of Australians on climate change, marriage equality, social justice and welfare policy.

Warren Entsch is one of the few Liberals who has had the intestinal fortitude to call out the ex-prime minister by saying he should resign from parliament in the interests of the party.

Mr Entsch said Mr Abbott was a "wrecker" who is trashing his own legacy, such as it is, in a misplaced search for vengeance on the individual who was given his job after he was dumped for failing to deliver the necessary results.

As things stand, Mr Abbott's failings as prime minister were all his own work. If Mr Turnbull, on the other hand, is forced out of office before the end of the parliamentary term it will be widely perceived as the result of Mr Abbott's vindictive white anting.

While Mr Turnbull's performance has been far from perfect he should be allowed to fail or succeed on his own terms, not as the result of the actions of a colleague.

If Mr Abbott can't toe the party line he needs to quit the parliament.