Ian Macfarlane has won the backing of his local Liberal National Party in Queensland to switch party rooms.
The Groom federal divisional council in Toowoomba agreed by a strong majority on Saturday to allow the former Liberal industry minister to sit in the Nationals party room in Canberra.
Mr Macfarlane announced he was switching to the Nationals at the beginning of December, two-and-a-half months after he was dumped from cabinet by newly-installed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The MP for Groom has become the first LNP member to seek a change in party room.
Members of the local council voted 102 in support of Macfarlane and 35 against at Saturday's meeting.
The LNP's state executive is now due to meet on Monday to assess the council's decision.
Some senior Liberal members have accused Mr Macfarlane of spitting the dummy because he was not reappointed to the ministry when Mr Turnbull seized the leadership from Tony Abbott in September.
