Malcolm Turnbull calls on Scott Morrison to go to early election

Former PM Malcolm Turnbull has told Scott Morrison to go to an early election as concerns grow the Government is barely holding together.

Mr Turnbull said this morning that a poll in early March would give the NSW Government of Gladys Berejiklian a chance of victory rather than being run over the by events playing out in Canberra.

"There are a lot of people in NSW, a lot of NSW Liberals, who believe it would be in the party's interests for the federal government to go to an election before the NSW government's set election date of March 23 so that Gladys Berejiklian, who is leading an outstanding government of real and considerable achievement, can go to the polls and (be) judged on her record rather than being hit by the brand damage that arose from the very destructive, pointless, shameful leadership change in Canberra in August," he told ABC Radio this morning.

"Plainly the Prime Minister's determination is to stay in government as long as he possibly can."

"My view, and I'm a retired member of Parliament and just a member of the Liberal Party .... my view is that it would be manifestly in the best interests and prospects of the Morrison Government to go to the polls as soon as it can after the summer break.”

Mr Turnbull revealed his plan, before losing the prime ministership in August, was to go to a March 2 election. The NSW election is on March 23.

"In fact my intention, and Scott's intention for that matter, prior to my being removed as prime minister was to go to the polls on March 2 and that would be exactly three weeks before the NSW State election,” he said.

"(Mr Morrison) has got to judge the right timing for an election but you would understand there is a real concern in NSW Liberal circles that a very good, outstanding government led by Gladys Berejiklian is going to have its prospects of success diminished because of the brand damage to the Liberal Party caused by the leadership change in August."

The Victorian election, at which many Liberals have reported the leadership tensions in Canberra made it almost impossible for the State Liberal Party, resulted in a huge swing to the ALP.

The biggest swings were in previously safe Liberal-held seats in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Mr Turnbull has also intervened in a damaging preselection battle in the Sydney electorate of Hughes held by conservative Craig Kelly.

Mr Kelly is faces being defeated in the preselection, prompting pressure for all NSW MPs to have their preselection confirmed without a vote by Liberal Party members.