Well the headline is wrong. What he actually said was any front bencher who crossed the floor would be moved to the back bench which has been the case forever I believe(if you don't support the govt you shouldn't be on the front bench). Back benchers only risk not being promoted. It's the labor mob who expel people for crossing the floor.
Will be interesting to see what Turnbull does and if Abbott has the guts to demote him if he doesn't tow the line
