TWO Australian Liberal party MPs have said they will call a leadership challenge against beleaguered PM Tony Abbott next week.

The motion was proposed by Luke Simpkins, a backbencher from Western Australia, and seconded by Don Randall.

Mr Abbott has faced growing questions about his leadership in recent weeks.

He was widely criticised for giving a knighthood to Prince Phillip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, and blamed for a Liberal defeat in Queensland elections.

In an email to the party which was carried by Australian media, Mr Simpkins – representing the Cowan constituency – said he had been “inundated” with questions about “the direction the government is being led in”.

“The knighthood issue was for many the final proof of a disconnection with the people,” he said, adding that it was “time to test the support of the leadership in the party room”.

Liberal chief whip Philip Ruddock said the motion would be discussed at a party meeting on Tuesday.

MPs will first vote on whether to allow the leadership spill to go ahead. If the motion passes, a leadership vote will take place.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Social Services Minister Scott Morrison are seen as possible contenders, though none has so far said they would run against Mr Abbott.