“They’ll be some retrospectives on the campaign, but I’d rather we spent more time looking at future issues rather than navel gazing,” Mr Broad said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declared victory on Sunday afternoon in the 2016 federal election  after eight days of vote counting.

Mr Broad won his seat early on election night but did not know if he would be in government or opposition.

The Coalition is confident that it will will enough seats to form a majority in its own right but has negotiated with independents and minor parties just in case.

Katter’s Australian Party leader Bob Katter, and independents Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan have pledged to support the Coalition in votes of confidence and budget supply.

Mr Broad said it was nice to be back in government. 

“It’s better to be in government than out of it,” he said.

Mr Broad will fly to Canberra for a Nationals party room meeting on Tuesday, then back to Mallee on Wednesday followed by a return to Canberra on Sunday. 

“I’m going back and forward a bit,” he said.

Mr Broad said he would not comment on what was on the agenda for the party room meeting but the Nationals’ federal election result would be discussed.

“We have held onto our seats, we have gained a House of Representatives seat and we may gain a Senate seat,” he said.

“Everybody is pretty happy.”

Though the federal election result was close, one early pattern identified by election analysts was a jump in votes for minor parties at the expense of Labor and the Coalition.

A number of senior Liberal leaders have said that their party needed to listen more to the needs and concerns of ordinary people.

Mr Broad said that was something the Nationals have already done and he was focused on future challenges.

“We have budgetary challenges. We are spending more than we earn and that is creating a debt, which is unfair on our children and grandchildren,” he said.

“There are challenges in Europe with Brexit, There are challenges with China’s armed forces buildup in the South China Sea.

“But there are also great opportunities that we can capitalise on.”

Mr Broad said that he would continue the roll-out of the National Stronger Regions and Roads to Recovery programs.

He said the Murray Basin Rail Project works would continue at a faster pace and there would be $10 million spent on better safety on the Western Hwy.

Mr Turnbull has said he will make minor changes to his ministerial team to replace junior ministers who lost their seats after the election.

Mr Broad said the Nationals would have greater numbers in cabinet, which is the group of senior government ministers.

“The Nationals have performed exceptionally well and we are entitled to more seats in cabinet. It’s on a percentage basis,” Mr Broad said.

“The beauty of the Nationals is that our Members of Parliament get a lot of input.

“You don’t have to be a minister to have influence.”

Mr Broad did not say if he was expecting a promotion. 

“If I get a ministerial position, so be it,” he said.

“If I don’t, so be it.

“Either way, my focus will be on delivering for the people of Wimmera Mallee, which is a big job in itself as it’s one third of the state.”