Tony Abbott has brushed off questions about Julie Bishop and his accusation that she lied about a phone call in the lead-up to February's unsuccessful Liberal leadership spill.
The lycra-clad former prime minister was tight-lipped as he pushed his bike through a media pack outside Parliament House on Wednesday morning.
It followed his public criticism of the deputy Liberal leader, who had said "of course" she told Mr Abbott about a chat between Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison in February.
Mr Turnbull reportedly offered to make Mr Morrison treasurer if the party room replaced Mr Abbott with him.
Mr Abbott told Fairfax Media Ms Bishop's recollection was "false".
He also took umbrage with her remark that cabinet held "absolutely firm" after the failed spill.
"Julie Bishop's claim that the cabinet was solidly behind me was rendered ridiculous by the leaking that so obviously took place," he said.
Ms Bishop would not comment any further when pressed on Tuesday night.
"Well there are obviously different recollections across a whole range of issues," she told the Ten Network's The Project.
Labor frontbencher Ed Husic said their public stoush was proof of deep division inside the Liberal party.
He predicts the claims and counter-claims will continue as long as they're in government.
"Tony Abbott isn't going [to] play by the ordinary rules of just being quiet and copping all the criticism," he told reporters.
Liberal MP David Coleman said Australians cared more about the country's future than "different recollections" of an event.
Crossbench senators are keen for the issue to be brought to a close.
"Seriously the horse is dead, stop flogging it. It's over, move on," Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm told reporters.
Nationals senator John Williams thought likewise.
"I think it is time to move on, what's happened has happened."
Greens senator Robert Simms couldn't resist taking a shot at Mr Abbott's promise to go quietly.
"If this is him going quietly, I'd hate to see what sour grapes look like," he said.
When asked how unhelpful it was that Mr Abbott kept talking about the events leading up to the September spill, Ms Bishop said she didn't have anything further to say on the matter.
When pressed further, she said the feedback she got from people during her visit to Geelong at the weekend was they were positive about the government's agenda.
"There is a feeling of goodwill and a momentum behind this government," Ms Bishop told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
