Liberal MP Mary Aldred confronts Andrew Hastie during party room meeting about quitting shadow cabinet

A Liberal MP has confronted Andrew Hastie during a meeting with colleagues after he quit the shadow cabinet over a dispute with leader Sussan Ley about who would form immigration policy.

First-term member for Monash Mary Aldred spoke up during a meeting Liberal MPs on Tuesday morning, ahead of a wider gathering of all Coalition parliamentarians.

She warned that she and other colleagues would lose their seats at the next election if the party did not unite and turn arguments back on the Government.

Mr Hastie has made no secret that he harbours leadership ambitions but he and supporters within the party insist no challenge is imminent.

However, he would not rule out mounting any challenge before the next election when asked by The West Australian before returning to Canberra for Parliament.

He quit the frontbench late on Friday, saying he believed that a charter letter Ms Ley sent him meant that as shadow home affairs minister, he would not be taking carriage of developing the Opposition’s migration policy despite shadow immigration minister Paul Scarr holding a more junior position.

Multiple Liberals confirmed Ms Aldred has spoken up during the meeting. Mr Hastie did not respond.

One commended her for having the courage to do so.

Another said they didn’t believe anyone had put her up to it, despite suspicion from some on the conservative side that the interaction was designed to be leaked out.

No mention was made of Mr Hastie’s position during the wider joint parties meeting.

Senator Michaelia Cash publicly urged her party to concentrate on what really mattered, the Australian people.

“There is nothing worse than politicians focusing on themselves. The Australian people, they actually hate that,” she said, speaking before the Liberals’ meeting.

Melissa McIntosh, a strong supporter of Ms Ley, said she had “never had any issues of (Mr Hastie) not being a team player” and that he was a strong colleague.

“We’re in a dark and dismal place in the Liberal Party, the Australian people spoke very loud and clear at the election,” she said.

“We have a lot of work to do, and we do need to focus on that policy development so we do have an offering that Australians want come the next election.”

The only Liberal to win a seat from the teals in May, Tim Wilson, said the party needed “people who are willing and keen to serve” on its front bench.

Ms Ley is expected to reshuffle her ministry line-up for the second time in five weeks after the parliamentary sittings.

There is already growing pressure for her to fill the vacancy left by Mr Hastie with another conservative from the lower house.