Warren Truss says the government frontbench would need to change if Ian Macfarlane sits in the Nationals party room.
The Nationals leader told reporters after a meeting with his MPs in Canberra on Thursday Mr Macfarlane would be welcome to sit in the party room, but had not yet made the shift.
Mr Macfarlane would first need to seek the approval of his local electorate council, Mr Truss said, which could take several weeks.
Mr Truss said greater numbers in the Nationals party room would trigger an entitlement in the coalition agreement to greater representation on the frontbench.
"Naturally we would expect those elements of the agreement to be honoured," he said.
He said no commitment had been given to Mr Macfarlane that he would take a leadership role in the party.
Mr Truss said others who sat in the Liberal party room, such as former whip Scott Buchholz, would also be welcome to join the Nationals.
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