Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has denied claims about her knowledge of the Liberal coup, contained in a new book, were any different to her story so far.

On Thursday, the book, Battleground, by political author and academic Wayne Errington and journalist Peter van Onselen, made claims Ms Bishop’s chief-of-staff, Murray Hansen, attended a pre-leadership spill rendezvous that determined the future of Tony Abbott.

The meeting was held at a Liberal Party colleague’s home, near Canberra, the night before Malcolm Turnbull launched a challenge to Mr Abbott’s leadership.

• Can Malcolm Turnbull really tax his core voters?
• Speed humps for Malcolm Turnbull as colleagues break ranks
• It’s time for Malcolm Turnbull to deal with Tony Abbott

During question time on Thursday, Ms Bishop came under fire from Shadow Foreign Minister Tanya Plibersek, over her history of loyalty.

Check out the icy confrontation below:

Earlier on Thursday, Ms Bishop confirmed Mr Hansen was present at a “drinks night” at the home of Eden-Monaro MP Peter Hendy.

“It completely aligns with what I have said about this matter from the outset, that once I was aware that the Prime Minister at the time, Prime Minister Tony Abbott, had lost the confidence of a majority of the Cabinet room and a majority of his party, I spoke to him about it immediately,” she told media on Thursday morning.

The book also claimed Mr Hansen’s appearance was one day after Ms Bishop met with Malcolm Turnbull “to discuss where things stood”.

Errington and van Onselen wrote that Liberal MPs visited Ms Bishop “a week earlier [before the spill]” to discuss Mr Abbott.

Meanwhile, Mr Hansen was present at a meeting of Turnbull supporters at the home of Eden-Monaro MP Peter Hendy, one day after Ms Bishop reportedly met with Malcolm Turnbull “to discuss where things stood”.

Back in August, Mr Abbott and MP Peter Hendy were planting trees with the Green Army. Photo: AAP

“Hansen said little­ at the meeting but his presence spoke volumes,” the book read.

The claims saw Abbott loyalists quickly demand an explanation.

Former frontbencher Eric Abetz told Sky News on Thursday he would be disappointed if the claim was true.

“When I was a minister I would never have countenanced my chief of staff going to such a meeting without my imprimatur and approval,” he said.

Liberal senator Cory Bernardi said it would be unusual for a senior member of staff to be at such a meeting without their boss’s permission.

Ms Bishop confirmed she was aware of the appearance and that it was in line with her role as deputy to “understand what the party room is thinking”.

“It is part of my job to be in touch with members of the back bench, either through my staff or personally that is what I do,” Ms Bishop said.

The spill was six months after the failure of a similar motion in February, that called for Mr Abbott to be removed from the head of the party.

But he was given a further six months to turn things around, Ms Bishop told Channel 9 in September.

“I was deeply concerned at the despair within the party room,” she said.

“I was concerned by the fact that the Prime Minister had asked for six months to turn things around and that had not occurred.”