Former Howard government minister Mal Brough says he's not yet assured of a return to the federal parliament.
He says he's not ready yet to claim victory in former Speaker Peter Slipper's Sunshine Coast seat of Fisher.
The Palmer United Party was a threat, pushing in front of Labor on Greens preferences, he said.
Mr Brough said Tony Abbott had not made any promises to him in terms of a spot on the front bench.
"No promises. I haven't asked for any commitment," he told the Seven Network.
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"We are a long way from winning this seat yet. None of those issues have been exercising in my mind at all."
Veteran MP Bob Katter said Mr Brough should be given a "prominent position" in Mr Abbott's cabinet team.
He said he'd done good things in his old portfolios, including in the area of indigenous affairs.
"He most certainly deserves a very prominent position as a member of the ministry," Mr Katter said.
With 28 per cent of the vote counted, Mr Brough is sitting on 57 per cent on a two party preferred basis, well ahead of Labor's Bill Gissane on 42 per cent.
Mr Brough believes Labor's vote collapsed because of the high jobless rate in the electorate.
"This place is really hurting, with jobs and job security were the real big issues and they got annoyed with that," he said.
"What we did see in the last few days is the Labor Party vote collapse."
Mr Slipper, a Liberal-turned-independent has so far only managed just 1.5 per cent of the primary vote.
