Last thing we need is uncertainty: PM

Tony Abbott says the last thing Australia needs right now is uncertainty and instability as he moves to stave off a challenge to his leadership.

A special meeting of Liberal MPs will be held in Canberra on Monday - a day earlier than scheduled - to deal with a spill motion.

"The best thing we can do is deal with the spill motion as quickly as possible," Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.

"The last thing Australia needs right now is instability and uncertainty."

Mr Abbott said after speaking to his colleagues he had decided to bring forward the meeting on the spill motion so they could "put it behind us".

"The only question for our party is do we want to reduce ourselves to the level of the Labor party in dragging down a first-term prime minister."

Mr Abbott did not take questions.

Senior frontbencher Mathias Cormann backed the decision to bring on the meeting, saying he believed there was overwhelming support for the move.

"It's inconceivable it would be in the best interests of either the Liberal Party or the country for the prime minister to go into the parliament tomorrow with this issue unresolved," he told ABC television.

Senator Cormann insisted Mr Abbott had the unanimous support of cabinet - including from potential leadership contender Malcolm Turnbull - and the overwhelming support of the party room.