The Liberal MP who was first to declare he had lost confidence in Tony Abbott’s leadership says the Prime Minister’s chances of remaining in the top job are “looking good”.

West Australian MP Dennis Jensen was one of three MPs to publicly disavow their leadership early last month, prompting a spill motion in the party room, which was voted down 61-39.

Dr Jensen has told ABC’s 7.30 his calls for Mr Abbott to change his leadership “style” and “substance” have been heard, and that the Prime Minister and his office are being more consultative.

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“With something like a spill motion happening, often you get people in the Prime Minister’s position who would sort of tend to bunker down and have a certain siege mentality about them,” he said.

“In fact, the Prime Minister has done the reverse.

“He has opened up, he’s become far more forthcoming and far more available, and I think that’s all showing in terms of the public perception.”

Many MPs have echoed Dr Jensen’s comments, with one telling 7.30 Mr Abbott’s “share price has gone up a lot in the last month”.

Some disagree and a number feel “nervous” about a perceived lack of narrative or clear message in the lead-up to the Federal budget in May.

Last week Mr Abbott promised the budget would be “dull and routine”, and declared that a forecast debt ratio of up to 60 per cent of GDP was “pretty good” compared with other nations and compared to its trajectory under Labor.

Dr Jensen is confident Mr Abbott will not be toppled in a leadership coup, provided he can earn the “trust” of the Australian public in the coming weeks and months.

“If the Prime Minister keeps going the way he’s going in terms of being open, in terms of listening to what his colleagues are saying, listening to what his community is saying, and putting out some of the big picture ideas about where we’re headed, I think he’ll be fine,” Dr Jensen said.

While the Government has had success with some contentious policies, including negotiating with Labor for tougher national security laws, revoking passports of foreign fighters and the mandatory collection of people’s metadata, the Upper House continues to stymie long-term cuts on Government spending.

Mr Abbott recently described the Senate as “feral”, much to the disgust of key crossbenchers like Independent senator Jacqui Lambie.

However, sole remaining Palmer United Party senator Dio Wang has said he considers that description to be a badge of honour.

“We’re doing our job to make sure the public wishes are reflected in the Senate, and if the Government is not happy about that and therefore naming us as feral, then that’s a great compliment for us,” Mr Wang said.

“We’re doing our job.”

Mr Wang said some Liberal ministers had been more “proactive” in their negotiations with him and he hoped that trend would continue.

“Being a senator for a small party, I really appreciate that because … the legislation sometimes doesn’t make much sense to me because there is a whole lot of history and background in the bill itself and being able to have briefings from both sides of politics helps me to build a picture much more quickly,” he said.

– ABC