EDEN-MONARO MP Peter Hendy should explain his role in the coup to remove first-term Prime Minister Tony Abbott this week, Labor says.
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Fairfax Media revealed plotters used Dr Hendy's east Queanbeyan home as a war room the night before Mr Abbott's removal.
Former member for the bellwether seat Mike Kelly, who has announced he will recontest the next federal election, said he was not surprised by Dr Hendy's involvement.
"It's a nasty dirty business, and people are better off focusing on their electorate and their communities, particularly one as demanding as Eden-Monaro," he said.
Dr Hendy refused to comment on Monday morning regarding his role in manoeuvres prior to the spill.
“I voted for Malcolm [Turnbull] and as you saw I walked in with him,” Dr Hendy said.
“One of the big things about the move to a new prime minister is a better use of cabinet government.”
Dr Hendy said the weighing up of stakeholder agendas was not working under Tony Abbott and the decision was made to remove him as prime minister.
According to a report in the Financial Review on Friday, Hendy hosted a dinner with Queensland Senator James McGrath, Victorian Senators Scott Ryan and Mitch Fifield, and Queensland MPs Wyatt Roy and Mal Brough.
The powerbrokers had dinner and resolved to remove Mr Abbott the following day.
Dr Kelly said he was not surprised at Dr Hendy's switch of support for Mr Turnbull, given Mr Abbott's low poll numbers, a marginal seat and the diversity of the Eden-Monaro electorate.
"Our region suffered pretty badly under his government, with public service sacking and the killing of renewable energy investments," he said.
“What's resonating now around the region is that Peter Hendy was a central plotter and conspirator in the political assassination of Tony Abbott."
Dr Hendy, who has a PhD in Government and won the bellwether seat from Dr Kelly by less than 1000 votes, said his decision to switch allegiance to Mr Turnbull was based on good governance.
“I have been convinced over recent times that Malcolm has learned a lot of lessons from when he was leader of the opposition,” he said.
“I think he will be like John Howard in that he was not a great opposition leader but will be a great Prime Minister.”
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