Malcolm Turnbull will spend a second day in Queensland as he weighs up a replacement for resigned health minister Sussan Ley.
Cabinet secretary Arthur Sinodinos is firming as the new health minister after Ms Ley's resignation over the expenses scandal.
The decision could be announced as early as Tuesday.
Liberal strategist Grahame Morris said Senator Sinodinos would be a "sensible" replacement and his post as cabinet secretary should be filled by a senior public servant, allowing the prime minister to reduce the size of his cabinet by one.
The post-election Turnbull cabinet of 23 members is the largest since the Whitlam government in 1975.
One of the first challenges for the new minister will be deciding on private health insurance premium rises to start in April.
Mr Turnbull, who will visit Brisbane on Tuesday, was in Toowoomba on Monday to talk up the benefits of trade deals and new roads and rail projects to bolster the regional economy.
Just how well the economy has fared over the Christmas period will be revealed when unemployment figures are released on Thursday.
Labor leader Bill Shorten, who returned from holidays on Monday, is set to talk up the need for Australian jobs and better support for Australian industry in Sydney.
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