The Deputy Premier threw the state Government into chaos last week when he announced National MPs would sit on the crossbench over environmental regulations intended to protect koalas.

Senior NSW Liberal MPs are calling for Nationals leader John Barilaro to consider his future in the wake of last week's stoush that threatened to destroy the Coalition.

Police Minister David Elliott said Mr Barilaro's position was no longer tenable and appealed to the Nationals party room to "consider their leader".

"I think the fact he's gone to ground at the moment is weak and he probably needs to consider his own position," Mr Elliott said.

"The National Party really needs to consider who their leader is because he doesn't have their best interests at heart."

On Friday, Mr Barilaro was forced to back down from his threat that Nationals MPs would move to the crossbench without relinquishing their ministerial portfolios.

It followed NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's warning they could not do both.

The clash was sparked by Nationals MPs' fury over a policy designed to protect koalas.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said there were "some questions to be asked" of Mr Barilaro in the wake of last week's drama.

He stopped short of calling for his resignation, saying it was a matter for Mr Barilaro and his party.

"There's no point of me reflecting on John's leadership — that's a matter for his conscience," he said.

Mr Constance said he was angry over a text message sent by the National Party to farmers on Friday after "they'd reached agreement that morning to be good Coalition partners".

Asked if he was happy to continue working with Mr Barilaro, he replied: "After Friday I'm finding it really hard to answer that because … you don't go and strike an agreement and then do that."

Nationals MP Bronnie Taylor said the party was standing by Mr Barilaro and there were "no moves" to replace him as leader.

"A good leader makes tough decisions and takes a stand even when it's difficult," she said.

"The public want bravery and honesty in their politicians and John exemplifies that."

Ms Berejiklian would not be drawn on whether Mr Barilaro should remain leader, but she called for unity.

"As Premier, my responsibility is to work with the leader of the Nationals and Deputy Premier, and that is what I will continue to do, but it is not for me to decide who that person is," she said.

"What I don't want is people of any description to think they can publicly air issues at the risk of creating any sort of distraction for the community.

"The people of this state come first. No single person, no single agenda. This isn't about one issue, this is about how we govern."

Premier prepared to call deputy's bluff

Ms Berejiklian revealed she had been poised to make good on her threat to swear in an all-Liberal cabinet had Mr Barilaro not backed down during their meeting on Friday morning.

"Everything was ready and I want to make that very clear — we'd made arrangements that if I wanted to take that course then I would have."

Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres was also critical of Mr Barilaro's actions and said it for him to decide whether he wanted to continue as Nationals leader.

"If you're going to choose to do that you must act like a leader, you must act like someone who brings the community together, you must act like Gladys Berejiklian," he said.

"We cannot use leadership to exploit people's fears — that's lazy leadership."

Mr Elliot said in nine months of Cabinet meetings, Mr Barilaro had not raised the koala policy as an issue.

"I'm very frustrated that he's tried to blow up this Government on something that's wasn't on the political radar," he said.

"He quickly backed down and the message to him is: If you're going to put a gun to somebody's head, make sure it's not a water pistol.

"I'm suggesting his leadership is untenable."

Opposition Leader Jodi McKay said she would move a vote of no confidence against the Government when Parliament resumed this week.

She has also said Mr Barilaro's position is untenable following what she has described as "a capitulation that no-one expected".