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High Liberals heal their wounds after an impending and devastating electoral defeat. The ministers urged the unit to unite to give them hope of staying in power after the next elections.
Independent Kerryn Phelps is virtually assured of victory over Liberal candidate Dave Sharma in Wentworth, depriving the coalition of his majority.
Cathy McGowan, Bob Katter and Rebekha Sharkie have indicated that the government should be elected for a full term, while Andrew Wilkie and Adam Bandt wish to hold elections.
Cabinet Minister Simon Birmingham said it was incumbent on his party to appease the deep fury of the electorate with strong communication about the government's policy achievements.
He said the coalition paid the price of dumping to Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister, which caused his resignation from Wentworth.
"It was a by-election where voter anger centered on Malcolm's dismissal as prime minister," he told Sky News.
His cabinet colleague, Dan Tehan, said that after the "perfect storm" in Wentworth, the Liberals had to unite.
"There can be no difference in cigarette paper between us," he told Sky.
National spokesman Darren Chester said residents of Wentworth sent a message after losing their popular local member.
"I think once you hand a baseball bat to the voters, you can not be surprised if they use it," Chester told the ABC.
Ms. McGowan, who is independent, believes that the coalition should be allowed to lead a full mandate.
She said voters in her electorate were "extraordinarily at odds" with the government's behavior, but wanted elections in May.
Mr. Katter and Ms. Sharkie both agree with her and Dr. Phelps, who would prefer the government to fully assume its mandate.
But Katter told ABC radio on Monday that there was growing unrest in the community over both sides of the political spectrum.
"People have made the decision to move away from big parties and they are not coming back," Katter said.
Mr Wilkie, an independent, will not guarantee trust, while Greens MP Bandt said an election should be called because "the sooner we eliminate this rotten government, the better."
A belated series of Liberal postal votes, which briefly revived the Prime Minister's hopes that Sharma could overtake Dr. Phelps, now seems unlikely to change the outcome.
If the winner is confirmed, Dr. Phelps will be elected to the House of Representatives, with a cross bench of six members, the Labor Party holding 69 seats and the coalition, a majority missing with a majority with 75.
