'One Nation is not barking mad': Joyce weighs up future

Maverick MP Barnaby Joyce admits One Nation does a good job but hasn't committed to joining the party, following his decision to quit the Nationals.

The former deputy prime minister said his "less than spectacular" relationship with leader David Littleproud contributed to his decision to leave the junior coalition party and his NSW New England electorate at the next election.

The news fuelled speculation Mr Joyce will join One Nation, and although he says there's no timeline on his next political move, Pauline Hanson's party has some appeal.

"I think they do a good job," he told ABC Radio on Monday.

"On (net zero), I suppose One Nation is not barking mad like others are.

"I'm not saying yes (to One Nation), I'm not saying no. I'm saying I'm not going to entertain this discussion."

Mr Joyce pointed to Mr Littleproud's statements on generational change in the party as one of the reasons for his decision.

"I do believe there has been a breakdown in the relationship between myself and David and others," he told Seven's Sunrise program.

"I don't think it's conducive to a harmonious party room for them or, to be honest, for me.

"I think it is playing silly games of charades that everything is fine and anything is going well - it wasn't.

"The best thing to do there is to move on, which is what I can do."

Mr Joyce revealed he spoke to One Nation leader Pauline Hanson on Sunday night.

"I did ring her last night because seeing they (the media) are talking about us, we may as well speak to each other rather than through the media," he said,

"There was nothing locked-in, nothing ... let's take it down a step. I have not joined One Nation."

But his potential move to the minor party has prompted his Nationals colleagues to try to convince Mr Joyce to stay within the coalition.

Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack said he wanted Mr Joyce to stick with the party and had been in contact with him since the news became public on the weekend.

"Barnaby's been a force of nature for regional Australia and he's done a lot of good things," he told ABC Radio.

"Whilst I appreciate Pauline Hanson has been there for a long time ... the Nationals have been there for more than 100 years, we've turned up."

Mr McCormack said it was not likely the Nationals would stick with a policy of net-zero emissions, with MPs like Mr Joyce calling for the party to dump the measure.

"It does take a process. It's not a McDonald's drive-thru - you can't just turn up, ask for the report, and get it within five seconds of ordering. So that will take its time," he said.

"Obviously, we'll be having these discussions, but I don't believe the National Party will continue with net-zero."

Mr Littleproud on Sunday said he was confident other MPs wouldn't follow Mr Joyce's lead amid internal tensions within the coalition, particularly over climate and immigration policy.

"The people that have joined the National party have joined because of our values, our beliefs and we proved that at the last election by holding onto all of our seats and nearly winning a new one," he told Nine's Weekend Today program on Sunday.

"We've led on many debates ... but we do that when we draw on the collective and we have sensible policies that are drawn from the collective of our party room."