THE way Tony Windsor recalls it, Tony Abbott begged crossbench MPs to make him prime minister, joking ''the only thing I wouldn't do is sell my arse - but I'd have to give serious thought to it''.

In interviews to mark the anniversary of their decision to back Julia Gillard to run the country, independent MPs have revealed startling new details of their reservations about the Opposition Leader, including that joking plea.

"The only thing I wouldn't do is sell my arse - but I'd have to give serious thought to it" ... Abbott. Credit:Andrew Meares

And Bob Katter - one of the crossbenchers who backed Mr Abbott - is now deeply disenchanted, accusing the Liberal leader of welching on a deal to put up laws mandating ethanol in petrol.

Mr Katter says the Coalition's failure to put up the laws before the Greens took control of the Senate fills him ''with a deep sense of disquiet'' over whether Mr Abbott can be relied on. ''If you weren't going to keep your agreement, you must bear the consequences of having a question mark over you and your undertakings,'' he said.