Critics of leader should resign: Hockey

Treasurer Joe Hockey says any cabinet minister who supports the Liberal leadership spill motion should resign before Monday's meeting.

Liberal MPs and senators are due to meet in Canberra to vote on a spill of the leader and deputy leader positions.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Sunday morning he had decided to bring the meeting forward to Monday - the first day of parliament for the year.

Mr Hockey said he expected all cabinet members to reject the spill motion, but if they supported it they should declare their hand now.

"If I disagreed with the prime minister and if I believed he wasn't the best person to lead the team I would step down from the cabinet - that is the appropriate thing to do," he told Sky News on Sunday.

He said he trusted that cabinet colleagues Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop, both of whom have been mentioned as leadership contenders but have not declared their hands, would oppose the motion out of loyalty.

"If you are going to be disloyal to someone, you should front them."

Mr Hockey expected the motion would be voted down, but not unanimously.

"There will always be a third of the party room that are upset about one thing or another," he said.

The treasurer rejected media reports that he could lose his job in a compromise to head off the leadership spill.

"I think everyone should do the jobs they have and properly serve the Australian people, not engage in commentary on gossip."

Mr Hockey stood by the government's controversial decisions to overhaul Medicare, higher education, pensions and welfare, which have contributed to the leadership unrest.

"We have no choice," he said of the budget changes.