Scott Morrison says some state Liberals have been sticking their nose into federal business but there's no bullying among his MPs in Canberra.
He's fired back at Labor after weeks of questions about intimidation during the Liberal leadership spill, bringing up Labor's own history of bullying claims.
Federal NSW MP Ann Sudmalis is quitting at the next election after what she told parliament was bullying from NSW state Liberal MP Gareth Ward, while other women have also complained about intimidation inside the party.
"Sometimes state members of parliament stick their nose into the business of federal members' areas," the prime minister told 2GB radio on Tuesday.
"I don't think that's a particularly good look, that's not how we do it round my part of town."
Mr Morrison, a former NSW Liberal state director, has asked the federal executive to come up with "a rigorous and confidential" process to deal with complaints from all party members.
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek asked Mr Morrison about bullying in question time, and the prime minister fired back with reports about Labor's problems in Western Australia and western Sydney.
"They need to look at what's happening in their own case," Mr Morrison said.
Asked at a press conference whether he was 100 per cent confident bullying was not an issue within his parliamentary party, the prime minister said: "I am."
Mr Morrison also wants "concrete plans" to ensure Liberal women are trained and supported to win preselection battles.
Ms Sudmalis will quit at the next election, making her the third Liberal woman to announce her departure from the lower house.
"My decision has been made after six-and-a-half years of holding my pledge to be a team player in the face of NSW Liberal Party bullying, intimidation, leaking and undermining at a local level," Ms Sudmalis said on Monday night.
Mr Ward said the claims were not true and challenged Ms Sudmalis to repeat them outside the legal protection of parliament.
Andrew Guile, who ran second to Ms Sudmalis in the Liberal preselection for Gilmore in 2012, said she had no evidence for her claims.
"It's basically just name-calling to slander a few people, myself included, just because we've had political contests in the past," he said.
Mr Morrison refused to say whether Mr Ward has further questions to answer.
Victorian Liberal Julia Banks is also quitting at the election after hitting out at bullying, while Queensland Liberal Jane Prentice lost her preselection to a man.
South Australian senator Lucy Gichuhi has also been relegated to an unwinnable position on the Liberals' ticket for the next election.
There are 13 coalition women in the lower house, but that could drop to as low as six at the next election.
Australian Associated Press
