Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has deferred his planned visit next week to Papua New Guinea, after he received a request to do so from the country's prime minister.
Mr Morrison had intended to visit the nation on his way back from a visit with Japanese leader Yoshihide Suga next week.
A spokesperson for Mr Morrison said he accepted a request from Mr Marape to defer his planned visit.
"Prime Minister Marape contacted the Prime Minister and asked him to defer his visit, and the Prime Minister was happy to do so," the spokesperson told SBS News.
Mr Morrison is still planning to visit Japan after this weekend's virtual ASEAN summit.
James Marape is facing a mass defection after dozens of PNG politicians crossed the floor of parliament on Friday.
Several high-profile government members including the deputy prime minister and foreign minister are among those who withdrew support for the government.
Mr Marape has been in power for just 18 months, after replacing long-serving leader Peter O'Neill in a similar process that involved prominent government ministers switching alliances.
Legislation blocks any challenge to his government for the first 18 months but that period expires at the end of November.
Following the suspension of parliament the nation's opposition said they had secured enough support to move a vote of no confidence against Marape when parliament resumes on December 1.
Mr Marape said in a Facebook post that he would not be easily removed.
"It's not over until it's over, leadership has its moments," he said.
He still had 52 members of parliament in support and was in negotiations to secure the 56 needed for a majority before the return of parliament, he added.
Papua New Guinea's politics is extremely fluid and since independence no single party has ever held an outright majority, with parties instead relying on coalitions to govern.
Additional reporting: AFP, AAP.
