Barnaby Joyce has reclaimed his job as leader of the federal Nationals party after ousting Michael McCormack in a leadership spill.
He was forced to relinquish the role in February 2018 following revelations about his affair with former staffer and now-partner.
The change in leadership is also significant for how it could impact the Coalition's climate change policy.
Mr Joyce on Monday reflected on his political resurrection as leader of the Nationals and once again becoming the nation's deputy prime minister.
"I don’t want to dwell on the personal except to say hopefully one learns from their mistakes and makes a better person of themselves," he told reporters.
"This is not the wish of one person - it is a decision and a democratic process by a party."
Mr Joyce had stressed the need for the party to speak more strongly for its traditional base ahead of the spill, including advocating a pro-coal stance since his return to the backbench.
He said he would now broker a new Coalition agreement with Prime Minister Scott Morrison but would not be drawn on pre-empting the party's policy positions.
Mr Joyce said he would be guided by his colleagues on issues such as net-zero emissions and believes he offers the party "the best chance of winning".
"It is not Barnaby policy - it is Nationals policy," he said.
"I will be guided by my party room."
Mr McCormack had faced severe criticism of his leadership being ineffectual, his party's broader direction and his perceived inability to rein-in Prime Minister Scott Morrison's shifting language on emissions reduction.
Mr McCormack earlier responded to the spill with dignity - saying he stood by the democratic process.
"It's been an absolute privilege to represent the National party as its leader," he told reporters.
"This is the way that politics is - is it disappointing? Well yes of course it is."
Mr McCormack said while he has been preselected for the next election, he would take some time to consider his political future.
He added that he would not seek to undermine the party moving forward.
"I’m a team player and a very loyal person and I’ve never held grudges," he said.
Internal divisions within the Coalition were exposed last week after senior Nationals minister Keith Pitt contradicted Mr Morrison over the government's ambition for net-zero emissions.
Mr Morrison has said he wants Australia to reach net zero "preferably" by 2050.
But within the Nationals party there is strong resistance to supporting the emissions target.
Mr McCormack said he didn't believe the government's climate policy was problematic for the Nationals.
Nationals whip Damian Drum confirmed the change in leadership following a party meeting on Monday morning.
Mr Drum would not reveal the final vote tally of the leadership spill - in line with the party's tradition.
"We don’t announce numbers - we respect the room," Nationals Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie later said.
Mr Joyce needed to secure at least 11 votes out of 21 in the Nationals party room to win the leadership ballot.
Mr Morrison was forced to respond to the leadership change from quarantine in the Lodge after returning from his overseas trip for the G7 summit.
He told parliament Mr Joyce would be sworn in as deputy prime minister on Tuesday.
"We have a lot to do, there is a lot of work to be done, a lot of support to provide to rural and regional Australia," he said.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese accused the Nationals of self-indulgence.
"There has been no reason given for the rolling of the leader of the National Party other than self-indulgence and a power hungry mob engaging in politics," he told reporters.
He added that the change marked the sixth combination of prime minister and deputy prime minister under the eight years of the Coalition in government.
"It's a vote of no confidence in their own government," Mr Albanese said.
David Littleproud will remain Nationals deputy leader.
"We now have to draw a line in the sand and get on with the job," Mr Littleproud said.
Mr McCormack had survived an earlier leadership challenge from Mr Joyce in February last year.
