Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss has played down suggestions of a backroom plot to transfer dumped Liberal minister Ian Macfarlane to the Nationals.
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Speaking with Mr Macfarlane at the launch of the Toowoomba bypass on Monday, Mr Truss said "there was no conspiring, no behind the backs" before the member for Groom's shock decision last week to defect to the junior Coalition partner.
"The reality was that there were discussions, those discussions came to public attention when Ian chose to bring them to public attention," Mr Truss said.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that MPs involved in the talks with Mr Macfarlane had not betrayed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
"I reject any suggestion of that nature," Mr Truss said.
"Clearly when there are changes occurring in leadership, when there are changes occurring in the governance of parties, when people move from one party to another it doesn't all happen publicly in the open.
"There is discussions going on for a long time."
Mr Turnbull was only told of the defection last Wednesday, one day before news of the move broke in the media.
The defection means the Nationals would be entitled to an extra cabinet position, however Mr Macfarlane refused to comment on his attempts to re-enter the cabinet by switching parties.
He said he would not be making another statement until his defection is considered by the Queensland Liberal National Party's state executive.
Mr Macfarlane faces two hurdles before he can join the Nationals.
New LNP president Gary Spence told Fairfax Media Mr Macfarlane party members in the seat of Groom would first be asked to approve the transfer.
After that, the state executive must also sign off on the switch.
Mr Macfarlane's defection has caused division in Coalition ranks, with Attorney-General George Brandis among the senior figures to criticise the move.
"I think it's left a very bad taste in people's mouths, the way in which this has been done," Senator Brandis said on Sunday.
Mr Turnbull had been due to appear at Monday's launch with Mr Macfarlane but cancelled.
Mr Truss said this was because the Prime Minister was announcing the government's innovation plan in Canberra.
