Claims the PM is a ‘bully’ disrupt the Coalition’s hard-sell budget

Senior ministers have defended Prime Minister Scott Morrison against a bruising personal attack from Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, saying the NSW senator and factional operative was angry at losing her pre-selection at the weekend.

Multiple Liberals noted that Mr Morrison, along with then prime minster Malcolm Turnbull, saved Senator Fierravanti-Wells’ preselection campaign in 2016 when she was under threat.