Josh Frydenberg is fielding renewed speculation about a return to federal politics while promoting his memoir, "A Grateful Son." The reception among colleagues 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 sided with Frydenberg over other potential Liberal candidates, but no formal move has been confirmed. Frydenberg has also defended the large-scale spending that occurred under his watch as treasurer, bringing budget decisions back into focus alongside the political positioning.