Nationals leader Warren Truss has given no indication of his intention to retire at the first party meetings of the year.
The deputy prime minister told coalition colleagues in Canberra on Tuesday every MP needed to focus on re-electing the government "in everything we do from now on".
He said it was important to lay the groundwork for re-election as early as possible.
"You don't fatten the pig on market day," he said, quoting former prime minister John Howard.
A joint Liberal-Nationals party room spokesman said no mention was made of retirement.
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It is understood the leader was also silent on his future at the Nationals-only party room meeting on Monday.
Nationals frontbencher Fiona Nash told reporters on Tuesday Mr Truss' silence was not frustrating the party or causing a distraction.
Mr Truss, who has been in federal parliament since 1990, has formally nominated for his Wide Bay seat for the next election but has not yet been endorsed by Queensland's Liberal-National Party.
But there's been speculation he could call it quits by Easter.
Such a move would allow Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to reshuffle his cabinet ahead of an election due around September.
