Prime Minister Tony Abbott is expected to reshuffle his ministry this weekend after Arthur Sinodinos resigned as assistant treasurer.
The senator's resignation was to have been formally announced this Sunday, but a media leak brought it forward to Friday.
The former Howard government adviser also hinted that a broader reshuffle was being contemplated.
"I was working on the basis that I would exchange letters with the prime minister today and he would make an announcement probably Sunday and whatever other arrangements he might be wishing to contemplate," Senator Sinodinos said.
Mr Abbott said he would announce the replacement in "coming days".
The senator had stood aside from the ministry to give evidence in NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiries.
However, the ICAC reports have been delayed until at least March 2015 and the government needs an assistant treasurer to work on the May budget.
Senator Sinodinos said the prime minister had advised him he could not resume his duties until the ICAC matters were completed and reported.
"I am confident that when the reports are finally released, I will not be subject to any finding of corrupt conduct or illegality," the former NSW Liberal Party treasurer said.
Parliamentary secretary to the prime minister Josh Frydenberg is tipped to take on the assistant treasurer's role.
Senator Sinodinos, who will remain in the upper house as a backbencher, said he would now be "liberated" to talk about a wide range of issues.
A poor showing in the polls and recent ministerial blunders have put pressure on the prime minister to make some changes to his ministry team.
It's been speculated a wider reshuffle could lead to Defence Minister David Johnston losing his post.
"One of the arts of government is to pick the best possible team on the field, have some pretty good reserves and have a capacity to face up to performance issues and deal with them as they arise rather than allow them to fester," Senator Sinodinos said.
Justice Minister Michael Keenan, who hails from Senator Johnston's state of Western Australia, said the defence minister was doing a "good job".
Senator Sinodinos said the government should be promoting more women into senior roles.
Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop told reporters in Brisbane on Friday any changes were a matter for the prime minister.
"I think we have a very strongly performing team," she said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said a "job swap" wouldn't help the government.
"Whichever way Tony Abbott shuffles the deck, Australians still get a dud deal," he told AAP.
"He is this government's biggest problem - so unless he's reshuffling himself out, Australians will be forced to suffer through exactly the same unfair government next year."
The new assistant treasurer will work with Treasurer Joe Hockey in sifting through budget submissions which are due by February 6, just days before parliament resumes for the year.
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