The federal opposition has called off plans to lodge a no-confidence motion against the government, criticising independent MPs for failing to support the move.

Opposition manager of business Christopher Pyne said on Monday that if there was no support for a no-confidence motion the Coalition would not waste parliament's time debating the issue.

Manager of opposition business Christopher Pyne says the Coalition will not put forward a no-confidence motion in the government despite earlier vows to do so. Credit:Andrew Meares

The Coalition has been retreating from its vow of introducing a no-confidence motion since first promising to put one forward in budget week.

Mr Pyne met with a stinging response last week after writing to crossbenchers in an attempt to gauge support for a motion against the Gillard government, which could have brought forward the federal election from September 14 to August 3.