Nationals have rallied around leader Michael McCormack after the party appears to have retained all its seats, including Cowper where it was under pressure from Rob Oakeshott.

The result will strengthen McCormack’s position, though his critics point out that Scott Morrison spent a lot of time shoring up rural seats during the campaign.

Notwithstanding a patchy campaign including a combative interview on water buybacks, Barnaby Joyce’s strong win in New England has raised questions over whether the former leader will throw his hat in the ring.

All leadership positions are thrown open after an election campaign, although National party convention has not seen a challenge to a leader after a successful election campaign.

Deputy leader Bridget McKenzie said she would be backing McCormack as someone who has been passionate for rural Australia.

“I will be backing Michael McCormack all the way – he led us to victory, he has been tireless and relentless,” McKenzie said.

Agriculture minister David Littleproud, who is also considered a leadership contender, said it was “pretty hard to prosecute case for change, given we have kept the furniture”.

Veterans affairs minister, Darren Chester said given the election result, there was no case for leadership change.

“This is a great result by the leadership team, so there’s no case for change, I think he has done a great job,” Chester said.

Retiring Nationals senator John Williams, who will still be in the party room to vote at the Nationals’ first meeting after the election, also said there was no case for change.

“The Nats have always been cautious regarding the leadership and you can see that given we have only had 14 leaders in 100 years,” Williams said.

“How could you consider change after we retained all 16 seats, when polls said the result would be a shocker. I don’t think there should be a change in leader at all, in my opinion.”

Williams said while McCormack was not well known, he would have a three-year term to work on his lower profile.

“He is not well known, but he doesn’t get into controversies, so with help of Scomo, I would see no reason for him to be challenged.”

In the last weeks of the campaign, the Nationals made a number of big-ticket promises as the Coalition faced challenges in rural seats.

McCormack as infrastructure minister promised to implement a new statutory authority called the National Water Grid to look at water projects, though little detail was provided as to how it would work in conjunction with Infrastructure Australia.

Littleproud promised a review by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) into water trade in the southern basin which has the capacity to crack open some of the thorny issues created by the decoupling of land and water ownership.

Littleproud said he was very keen to see that ACCC review under way to “get under the bonnet of the water trade”.

Chester said the Nationals would continue working on “bread and butter issues” and unite as a Coalition to provide a stable government.

“We have to keep working on bread and butter issues, connecting regional communities through transport, rail and telecommunications,” he said. “We are judged harshly in those areas if we don’t deliver.

“The Nats also need to own practical environmentalism, through reinvigorating Landcare and highlighting community environmental work.”

McKenzie said the Nationals would continue to work on health and education services in regional Australia and digital connectivity.