Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has hit back at suggestions he is losing control of his leadership amid the citizenship crisis engulfing federal parliament.
In a somewhat heated early morning television interview, Mr Turnbull was pressed about being distracted by the intricate details of the citizenship scandal instead of being focused on running the country.
Asked if his leadership could survive, Mr Turnbull rattled off a list of things on his agenda: attending this week's APEC summit, signing new trade deals, meetings with US President Donald Trump and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, dealing with the North Korea threat and terrorism in southeast Asia, as well as reducing company tax and creating jobs.
Nine's Today host Karl Stefanovic accused Mr Turnbull of waffling, saying the perception was that he was meant to be running the country but was distracted by the citizenship crisis and unable to run his own party.
But Mr Turnbull hit back, branding the suggestion as "nonsense" and accusing the TV host of being patronising.
"I'm not distracted," Mr Turnbull said. "I'm resolving the problems, resolving the problems and delivering."
Last week, Liberal backbencher Kevin Andrews stoked a flurry of leadership speculation after describing Mr Turnbull as being the leader "at the moment".
The conservative MP, who is among the most vocal backers of a citizenship audit of all members of parliament, said there was a "deep sense of frustration in the community as what people see as inadequate leadership at the present time".
Tony Abbott's former chief of staff Peta Credlin has since described Mr Turnbull as "a prime minister on life support", with the citizenship scandal "cutting in and out on the ventilator", while former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has accused the prime minister of being "bereft of leadership".
