Rockliff spoke outside parliament this morning, as momentum gathers on the issue.

A vote is expected on the issue this afternoon, with a number of MPs set to speak after debate resumes from 10am.

Outside parliament, Rockliff was defiant, calling opposition leader Dean Winter’s motion “divisive and destructive”.

“This will be an election that Tasmanians don’t want and Tasmania cannot afford. Be that on Mr Winter’s head,” he said.

“This has been a selfish grab for power.”

Rockliff said the government had “built a better Tasmania”.

“I cannot let Mr Winter’s selfish grab for power destroy what we have built over the course of the last decade,” he said.

“The only job Mr Winter is interested in is mine. And I am not going anywhere.”

Winter tabled the motion on Tuesday before moving it yesterday morning.

He claimed it was driven by Rockliff’s management, bungles around the Spirit of Tasmania vessels, and controversy over potential privatisation.

If the no-confidence motion passes, Rockliff will visit Lieutenant Governor Chris Shanahan – who is filling Governor Barbara Baker’s shoes while she is on leave – to ask for parliament to be dissolved.

If Labor’s motion receives the support of the crossbench, it is likely to pass.

Caught up in the issue is Tasmania’s potential admission to the AFL.

The footballing body is adamant that the addition of the Tasmania Devils to the competition is contingent on a new stadium in Hobart, the cost of which has ballooned out to almost $1 billion.

Rockliff has been a staunch supporter of Tasmania’s AFL bid, but the Greens have pointed to the growing stadium costs as a prime example of budget mismanagement.