Defence Minister David Johnston says the prime minister has reassured him he's doing a good job, amid speculation he may lose his portfolio in a frontbench reshuffle.
Reports suggest Tony Abbott intends to reshuffle his ministry to shore up support in the polls after a poorly received budget.
The speculation includes suggestions Senator Johnston could be replaced in defence by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison.
Senator Johnston said any changes were a matter for the prime minister.
"No one has a job for life, this is politics, this is not some charitable institution," he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
The senator says he is just getting on with what he described as an "onerous and difficult" portfolio, but he couldn't guarantee he'd be around to deliver the government's defence white paper.
"Who is going to guarantee anything?" he said.
But he said Mr Abbott has expressed his satisfaction with the job he is doing on a number of occasions.
Talk of a reshuffle also follows a clash between Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and right-wing commentators Andrew Bolt and Alan Jones, who believe the former coalition leader is trying to undermine Mr Abbott.
Asked if there was a concerted campaign against Mr Turnbull, Senator Johnston said: "Not to my knowledge".
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