Australian PM calls meeting to consider spill motion

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Sunday that he will move the special Liberal party room meeting Monday instead of the previously scheduled meeting Tuesday to deal with the leadership spill motion as soon as possible.

On Friday, Western Australian (WA) Liberal MP Luke Simpkins declared a motion to spill the leadership position of the Liberal party at the party room meeting Tuesday.

Another WA Liberal MP (member of parliament) Don Randall seconded the motion.

Abbott's future has been the subject of increased pressure from backbenchers in the last fortnight as poor polling figures and the results of the Queensland state election heaped more pressure on the embattled prime minister.

"The last thing Australia needs right now is instability and uncertainty," Abbott said at a brief press conference Sunday morning in Sydney, Xinhua reported.

"On reflection, and after talking to my colleagues, I have decided that the best thing we can do is deal with the spill motion as quickly as possible and put it behind us," he said.

"Accordingly, I have asked the Whip, Philip Ruddock, to convene a Party Room meeting at 9 a.m. Monday morning to deal with this matter."