Prime Minister Kevin Rudd flies to Jakarta on Thursday for talks on asylum seeker boats with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
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In the talks Mr Rudd is expected to discuss the revival of Australia's $500 million live cattle export trade with Indonesia.
Mr Rudd told a newspaper in his home city of Brisbane he would spend more time in Queensland, as he tried to shore up support for Labor before the election.
He said he would stay at the PM's official residences, The Lodge and Kirribilli House in Sydney, only when in those cities on official business.
Mr Rudd is trying to protect Labor's eight seats in Queensland after mass defections from cabinet.
His prominence in Queensland is an attempt to make up for the loss of three cabinet ministers from the state after Wayne Swan, Craig Emerson and Joe Ludwig quit when Ms Gillard was defeated.
In a pitch to the parochial state, Mr Rudd said he wanted to stay in touch with the local community. ''I really like sitting on the back verandah of our house in Norman Park and, while I will be travelling a lot, it will be great to come home to Brissie and be in my local community and the warmer weather,'' he said.
He is expected to move some personal belongings such as books to The Lodge for his visits to Canberra.
Mr Rudd listed his family home at 35 Mueller Street in Yarralumla on the market about a month ago.
It is being offered for $2,250,000 through Peter Blackshaw Real Estate.
The family left the house at the end of 2011 when son Marcus' year 12 studies finished.
It was then rented out, and the tenants vacated it last month.
