Prime Minister Tony Abbott threw down the gauntlet to his critics yesterday, arranging a special meeting for Liberal Party MPs to discuss his leadership.

The issue was to have been discussed tomorrow at a scheduled meeting for Liberal MPs, but Mr Abbott brought this forward, claiming he wanted to end uncertainty about his government’s direction.

“The last thing Australia needs right now is instability and uncertainty,” Mr Abbott said.

He has come under increasing criticism from members of his own party over the government’s sagging approval ratings.

Polls have slumped since May, when the government’s first budget was widely criticised as worst for the poor and vulnerable.

If a spill motion is carried this morning the positions of prime minister and deputy will be declared open, leading to secret ballots to either return Mr Abbott and his deputy Julie Bishop or to replace them.