January 15: The government backs down on its Tony Abbott announcement that there will be a $20 Medicare cut.
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January 26: Tony Abbott announces that Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh will be knighted, a move which was widely ridiculed and raised internal questions about his judgment. He later confirmed it was a "captain's call".
January 28: Rupert Murdoch tweets that Tony Abbott's chief of staff Peta Credlin should be sacked. "Tough to write, but if he won't replace top aide Peta Credlin she must do her patriotic duty and resign ..." he wrote.
January 31: Campbell Newman's Liberal government suffers a massive backlash in the Queensland election. Meanwhile Queensland MP Mal Brough reveals he could challenge Tony Abbott.
February 1: Abbott meets Julie Bishop in Sydney to discuss leadership
February 2: Tony Abbott delivers a speech at the National Press Club, admitting that he had made some mistakes, but he was not considering resigning.
February 4: Jeff Kennett says the Liberal Party's leadership was now "terminal". "It needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so that the party can move on," he said.
February 5: Tony Abbott tells the media he is "confident" that he will be leader next week, but news of a secret leadership meeting with Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull emerges.
February 6: A motion is called for a leadership spill by WA MP Luke Simkins. Tony Abbott says Julie Bishop and he will stand together during the motion on Tuesday (10 February).
February 7: Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop appear together in Townsville. Likely leadership contender Malcolm Turnbull steers clear of cameras and the media.
February 8: 8am: Malcolm Turnbull appears outside his Sydney home and praises Tony Abbott for allowing a spill motion on Tuesday and allowing MPs time to consider the decision.
February 8: 8.30am: Tony Abbott puts out a statement to announce he has asked the chief government whip to move the vote forward to Monday (February 9), 9am. "It is important to end the uncertainty at the very beginning of the parliamentary sitting week."
February 8: 8.41am: Rupert Murdoch tweets his support for Tony Abbott. "Abbott, good guy, not perfect but no case for rebellion. Remember last one gave us Gillard disaster. Country still paying for it."
February 8: 9am: Tony Abbott holds a short press conference in Sydney. "The only question for our party is do we want to reduce ourselves to the level of the Labor Party, in dragging down a first term prime minister?" He doesn't take any questions from assembled media.
February 8: 10am: Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos criticises Tony Abbott's decision to move the spill motion forward, asking whether he consulted colleagues beforehand. Sinodinos says he will vote in support of a spill motion. However, Abbott loyalists back the Prime Minister's decision saying the decision to go early "provides a certainty for the party and for the country".
February 8: 10.30am: Queensland MP Teresa Gambaro speaks out about the current Liberal leadership. "We cannot govern ourselves in an internal climate of fear and intimidation. And that is the unacceptable situation we have endured for the past five years."
February 8: 11am: Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop appear together at a prearranged fundraiser in Sydney. Turnbull describes Tony Abbott's decision to move the spill motion forward as "a captain's call". He says "anyone" can stand for the leadership without being disloyal.
February 8: 11.30am: Tony Abbott visits Sydney's Chinatown, taking selfies with with supporters in the crowd.
Febuary 8: 2pm: Tony Abbott and wife Margie arrive in Canberra.
