Another NSW Labor MP has broken ranks to warn of annihilation for the government at the next election, after weeks of speculation about Premier Morris Iemma's leadership.
Right-wing Bathurst MP Gerard Martin told Fairfax he is stunned by the premier's view that leadership speculation is the product of an internal war with the party's head office.
He said the government is well and truly on the nose with the electorate, and not only because the proposed electricity privatisation, which he opposes, is unpalatable.
"There's a whole heap of issues and people think we're not responsive," Mr Martin, a government whip, said.
"Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against Morris personally. When he was a minister he always treated me well, but it's the people around him - (Michael) Costa, (Eddie) Obeid
"I have a high personal regard for Morris but I am very concerned we're going backwards in the electorate."
The government is disconnected from not just the party's head office, membership and unions but the community, he said.
A new leader, if one was necessary, would be picked by the caucus, but Mr Martin said he had not turned his mind to whom he would favour.
He said it's not too late for Mr Iemma to turn things around with the caucus, but the situation is becoming rapidly worse and major changes are needed.
In a reference to Treasurer Michael Costa's criticism of backbench critics as lacking talent, Mr Martin said: "I must be one of those talentless dickheads. I have been reluctant to talk publicly but this debate has to be about the party, not personalities.
"If we don't do something now, things will spiral out of control."
Drummoyne MP and fellow right-winger Angela D'Amore earned the premier's ire when she told The Sun-Herald last week that he and his ministers were out of touch.
Yesterday the apparent frontrunner for the premiership, Emergency Services Minister Nathan Rees, insisted he was not interested in the job.
At a farewell for 10 firefighters heading to the US to help with 60 fires burning across six states, Mr Rees said: "The Premier has my full unequivocal rock solid support. Any talk of a challenge is nonsense."
He urged his caucus colleagues to "get back to work" and warned head office it should let the Government "get on with our job".