NATIONALS Senate leader Barnaby Joyce has brushed off differences of opinion between him and coalition leader Tony Abbott.
Senator Joyce was last week shifted from the high-profile shadow finance portfolio to be spokesman for water, infrastructure and rural affairs.
He has previously voiced opposition to Tony Abbott's proposed referendum to decide whether the states would refer their Murray Darling Basin powers to the Commonwealth.
Senator Joyce said he wanted to get "right around the basin to speak to stakeholders" about water.
"Why have a fight when we can have an agreement instead?" Senator Joyce said.
However, he admitted he disagreed with Mr Abbott's comments that damage to the lower lakes was caused by over-allocation upstream in the basin.
"The closer you are to the area, the greater the result you have," he said. "It's unlikely anything (such as a water buyback) in St George will have an effect on the lower lakes. It's even less likely from Toowoomba."
The Senator also laughed off the fact water minister Penny Wong had attacked him via a media release before he had arrived at work as spokesman for water.
"Every time Labor get stuck into me, I get a sense of warmth," Senator Joyce said.
"It's good to be loved by the right people and disliked by the right people."
