Scott Morrison has refused to indicate if he would resign as Liberal leader should the coalition lose the election, as the prime minister fended off attacks from his predecessor.
As Mr Morrison continued campaigning in Western Australia on Friday, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull used a speech to play up the roles of independents and say moderate voices were becoming increasingly marginalised in the party.
However, Mr Morrison responded by signalling a warning about so-called teal independents, but refused to comment on his own political future should the independents hold the balance of power in a hung parliament.
"I'm focused on the choices Australians have to make in what is just a couple of weeks' time," he told reporters in Perth.
"That answer lies in the lap of the Australian people."
The prime minister visited a defence manufacturing facility in Perth on Friday in the marginal seat of Cowan, held by Labor on a margin of 0.8 per cent, to announce $108 million to train 1500 people in the industry.
However, his visit was overshadowed by the remarks of Mr Turnbull, who said chaos and instability came from within the Liberal party.
"Political instability invariably comes from internal ructions within the major, governing parties not from independents on the cross benches," he said.
"Many parliaments, including in Australia, have operated with stability and good effect with major parties requiring the support of independents or minor parties to pass legislation."
Mr Turnbull denied he was telling Australian voters what to do on May 21, saying the speech was for an American audience.
"(The speech) is really pointing out how features of our ... electoral system make Australian democracy more resilient and offer people more choice and I think that's a very good thing," he told reporters in Washington.
The prime minister dismissed suggestions the coalition had lost its way during its time in government.
"I'm the first prime minister that has been able to stand for election at the last election and stand for re-election ... that's the first time that's happened in about 15 years and that has provided great stability and certainty," he said.
"If (independents) won't tell you how they would vote, how could you vote for them? ... We can't have a government that's a weathervane."
Mr Morrison repeated the claims during a business lunch and question-answer session hosted by The West Australian newspaper later on Friday.
He then finished the day campaigning in the electorate of Swan, unveiling a restoration plan for Perth rivers.
Swan is one of several WA seats Labor believes it can reclaim at the federal election, with others such as Pearce and Hasluck also in play.
