Barnaby Joyce is a little closer to becoming leader of the Nationals after winning the job of party deputy under Warren Truss.
The federal parliamentary team met in Canberra on Friday for the first time since the coalition election win last Saturday.
Mr Joyce, who has made the switch from the Senate to the lower house, defeated the coalition's agricultural spokesperson John Cobb in the ballot.
Taking over Mr Joyce's former position as Nationals Senate leader will be outgoing deputy Nigel Scullion, with Fiona Nash to be his deputy.
Mark Coulton will continue as chief whip and Bridget McKenzie will be Senate whip.
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Mr Joyce has never hidden his desire to be Nationals leader but always said he wouldn't put his hand up until Mr Truss - who was elected to parliament in 1990 - retires.
He quit the Senate to stand last Saturday for the NSW rural seat of New England, which had been held by retired independent Tony Windsor.
As he entered the House of Representatives for the first time on Friday, the party's highest profile politician insisted he hadn't made a single phone call asking for one of three Cabinet posts the Nationals are expecting to be allocated under the Abbott government.
However, it is expected Mr Joyce's elevation to deputy leader will earn him the nod for one of the spots at the expense of Mr Cobb, who was keen on the agriculture minister's role.
While the make-up of the government's frontbench isn't yet known, the outspoken Mr Joyce hasn't shied away from commenting on agricultural issues.
When asked on Thursday about Indonesian's plans to purchase a million hectares of Australian land for cattle breeding, he urged Australians to make a big noise to help convince Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott to reject it.
"This is like selling somebody the ACT, so it's quite a substantial chunk of Australia," he said.
