Josh Frydenberg is facing fresh questions about a return to federal politics while promoting his memoir, "A Grateful Son." The response from Liberal MPs has been lukewarm, and Barnaby Joyce was blunt, calling a Frydenberg leadership push "very bad." John Howard drew attention at the book launch with a cheeky remark about his former treasurer's ambitions.

Some political commentators have backed Frydenberg over other potential Liberal candidates, but no formal move has been made public. Frydenberg has also stood by the significant expenditure that occurred under his watch as treasurer, bringing budget decisions back into focus alongside the leadership speculation.