"I am the leader and I am standing tomorrow," he told a press conference currently underway at Parliament House.

Earlier today Mr Turnbull met with Mr Hockey for just over an hour.

Mr Turnbull said Mr Hockey told him that he would be voting against the leadership spill motion.

However, he deferred any questions about Mr Hockey's intentions thereafter saying journalists should ask Mr Hockey directly, but said "if the leadership is vacant anyone can run".

He also continued to defend the deal struck with the Government in order to pass the emissions trading scheme, even though it was the cause of the current leadership debacle.

"The Coalition policy as it stands is to support [the amended legislation]," he said.

Earlier, Mr Turnbull stormed out of Parliament House after his meeting with Mr Hockey, demanding that journalists leave him and his family alone.

Mr Hockey entered Mr Turnbull's office shortly before 1pm for a meeting which last just over an hour.

It is believed he went with the intention of informing Mr Turnbull of his intentions towards the Liberal Party leadership, which will be up for grabs at a special partyroom meeting tomorrow.

Opinion polls published today show Mr Hockey is the public's preferred candidate ahead of Mr Turnbull and Tony Abbott, and sources in Canberra indicate that internal support for Mr Turnbull has collapsed further following his tirade against Nick Minchin and the climate rebels on television yesterday.

Most Coalition figures believe Mr Hockey is the only candidate who can heal the deep divide within their ranks.

The only confirmed candidate Mr Abbott has indicated he will step aside if Mr Hockey is prepared to take on the poisoned chalice of the opposition leadership.

Mr Hockey spent the weekend seeking counsel from other members of his party, including former Prime Minister John Howard.

As yet he has not spoken publicly on whether or not he will challenge Mr Turnbull for the job.

However, after today's meeting, Mr Turnbull immediately left Parliament House, hurredly driven out by wife Lucy.

"Will you leave Lucy and I alone?" Mr Turnbull told reporters as he departed.

"If you want to know what Joe Hockey is doing, ask Joe Hockey."