David Littleproud doesn't care if he loses his job over a messy coalition split, with the Nationals leader saying he stood up for the party's principles.
The Liberals and Nationals have put a pause on their shock break-up to allow time for each party to work things out.
But the damage has already been done, with internal turmoil and the threat of a leadership coup bubbling within the Nationals following a fierce backlash from the Liberals and former prime ministers.
Despite this, Mr Littleproud remained resolute that his party had taken a principled step when a majority of the party room voted to part ways with the Liberals over policy disagreements.
"I'd rather go to (the party room) standing for something and if I have to lose my job for it, I don't care," he told Sky News on Sunday.
"This was a principled decision that the men and women of my party room made.
"I'm proud of them ... (proud of) the fact that we got we got an outcome in two or three days because of principles over politics."
The Liberals initially wanted to put all policies up for review after its worst federal election result since World War II.
But the Nationals have sought guarantees on four key policies: a recommitment to nuclear power, a regional investment fund, telecommunications service obligations and supermarket divestiture powers.
Mr Littleproud expects to formalise a coalition deal with Liberals leader Sussan Ley in coming days.