The NSW deputy premier has strongly backed his boss after a week of damaging infighting within the Liberal Party.
Nationals leader John Barilaro hasn't always worked hand in glove with Gladys Berejiklian but on Wednesday he was vocal in his public support of her premiership.
"I don't think anyone should ever question the strength of this premier - we've got the right premier for the times leading into the next election," Mr Barilaro told AAP.
"More importantly she's someone who is actually focused on NSW. So we are on track."
Ms Berejiklian in recent days was forced to mediate a messy internal dispute between Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Multiculturalism Minister Ray Williams.
That preselection spat came a fortnight after the Liberals lost the previously safe seat of Wagga Wagga which the Nationals had wanted to contest.
After that disastrous result, Mr Barilaro warned his colleagues they needed to "start connecting to real people".
But on Wednesday he was full of praise for the premier.
"We have a strong premier, a premier that's focused, hardworking and actually a lot of the fights that she's had have been behind closed doors, a lot of the things she's achieved have been behind closed doors and part of that is actually unscrambling some of the policies of past premiers and past leadership," Mr Barilaro said.
Epping MP Damien Tudehope will step aside at the next election to allow his constituent - Mr Perrottet - to run for the safe seat rather than challenge Mr Williams to run in Castle Hill.
Mr Perrottet on Tuesday said the sitting Epping MP "graciously offered" his seat which ended the heated fight between the treasurer and Mr Williams.
Mr Barilaro insists it's been a "privilege" to have worked with Ms Berejiklian for 20 months.
"People will judge us in March next year if we talk about our achievements and give them hope about a future and that's what we're focused on," Mr Barilaro said.
But he also took the opportunity to again ask his Liberal colleagues in the coalition "to stop talking about ourselves".
"As a country member, as someone who comes from the regions, that's something we do really really well and I think sometimes that's something our Liberal colleagues could learn from the Nats."
Australian Associated Press
