Federal Independent MP Rob Oakeshott says he's "kissed and made up" with Tony Abbott, seven months after suspending regular meetings with the opposition leader.
Mr Oakeshott, who helped deliver Labor minority government after the 2010 federal election, has not held a meeting with Mr Abbott since the coalition heavily campaigned in his area during the NSW state election.
But on Tuesday, Mr Oakeshott met with Mr Abbott over a sandwich and coffee in Port Macquarie during avisit by the opposition leader.
"We've kissed and made up a little bit and are hopefully going to talk through a whole range of issues that need to be talked through," Mr Oakeshott told Sky News after the meeting.
"I think that is good for everyone involved and hopefully lead to some better policy outcomes through the parliament."
Mr Oakeshott said that over the past seven months the coalition had not been honest in its approach to him.
"I believe in relationships that are fair dinkum. My view is there was honey being dripped all over me in Canberra and then vinegar being poured on me in the electorate by the coalition," he said.
As speculation continued about the future of the Labor leadership, Mr Oakeshott said it was time to put the "broken record" of leadership aside and "get on with it".
"We've got a full policy agenda that faces Australia ... I would hope every member of parliament sees that as their first and foremost responsibility over and above any politics - that's what Australia wants now," he said.
Mr Oakeshott said one of the issues that needed tackling, and that he would discuss with the coalition, is the need for workplace reform especially for small businesses.
"The way we structured the Fair Work Act ... there are issues on the ground that need to be addressed," he said, adding that such a debate should be done "without waving orange T-shirts and the Work Choices banner".
Mr Abbott told reporters in Mr Oakeshott's NSW seat of Lyne on Tuesday the coalition would stand a "strong and effective" candidate in the seat at the next election.
"We've got every chance of a very good result at the next election," he said.
Mr Abbott said former Nationals candidate David Gillespie would get "wholehearted support" if he wanted to run again in the seat.
