Yet more misery for Aussie PM Tony Abbott

Abbott is trying to prevent another caucus vote on his leadership. Photo / AP

For an hour or two yesterday, Australian PM Tony Abbott left the curse of his leadership troubles behind, only to have to endure the curse of the cricket at Eden Park.

The Aussie batting order collapsed as he and John Key watched. By the time the prime ministerial motorcade arrived at an Auckland fire station, Key couldn't contain his glee.

"There's not a rural fire happening at the moment; there's an urban fire happening down at Eden Park," he told the firefighters, who have battled blazes in Australia. "We've been burning our way through the Australian wickets. We'd urge you not to go and put that fire out."

Abbott thanked the 20 or so men for their service and solidarity with Australia.

He recounted his own experience as a volunteer firefighter with the Davidson brigade in his electorate in which he was once deputy captain.

"I understand the comradeship," he said. "I understand the sense of satisfaction and pride you get from the service and I just want to say there are times that I envy you that because there is something unambiguously good about the work that you do for our community."

Abbott paid Key a big compliment yesterday after their talks, congratulating him for his leadership of a successful centre-right Government.

He also commended him on committing New Zealand to take part in a joint New Zealand-Australia troop training mission to help Iraq in the fight against Isis.

It was a "right and proper" decision.

"As far as I am concerned, good on John Key for being there to shoulder a reasonable share of responsibility for this particular battle because the death cult is reaching out to the world.

"Australia is proud to be part of an international coalition working to disrupt and degrade and ultimately to destroy this death cult."

He is expected to make a formal announcement next week after he has consulted his party caucus. Having had his leadership challenged partly on grounds of a non-consultative style, he is taking more time over decisions.

Abbott and his wife Margie left last night to return to fight for his political life and try to prevent another caucus vote on his leadership. Audrey Young and AAP