Nationals politicians are playing down, but won't rule out, the prospect of dumping party leader Barnaby Joyce as the furore over leaked text messages continues.
Mr Joyce apologised and offered his resignation to Prime Minister Scott Morrison over the weekend after it was revealed he had called Mr Morrison a "hypocrite" and a "liar" in leaked text messages addressed to Brittany Higgins.
Nationals MPs are furious at the distraction as parliament returns for the first sitting week of the year.
But with an election due in the next three months, Nationals politicians say it is too close to change leaders.
Cabinet minister David Littleproud said the Nationals would have an honest conversation with Mr Joyce about the leaked texts in a party room meeting today.
"We will have a conversation with Barnaby. He's very candid. So too are our party room meetings." Mr Littleproud said.
"That's the one thing ... we sort it out in our party room.
"We have our blues, then we sort it out, get on with it."
Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack said the text messages were an unfortunate and damaging distraction.
But Mr McCormack, who was ousted by Mr Joyce, said Mr Joyce's leadership was a matter for him.
"Barnaby offered his resignation to the Prime Minister — I'm not quite sure how that works, because he can only really offer his resignation as the Nationals leader to the Nationals party room," Mr McCormack said.
"We've got a party room meeting this afternoon — I'm sure he's going to be told, as I read in the Sunday papers, that he needs to lift his game."
Mr McCormack said he would not rule out running as leader if Mr Joyce were to resign.
Mr Joyce said the text messages, sent to a third party but addressed to Ms Higgins, had been sent in the immediate aftermath of her allegation that she had been raped inside Parliament House.
He told Channel 7 this morning that he was eager to ensure Ms Higgins had access to support, and the mood of the parliament had affected him.
"Of course that affects your narrative, why wouldn't it?" Mr Joyce said.
"It clouds your judgement, it has to."
Mr Joyce, who has served in shadow cabinet and cabinet ministries and in committees with Mr Morrison for more than a decade, also said he did not know Mr Morrison closely when he called the Prime Minister a liar and a hypocrite.
Dutton denies being source of separate text leak
Separately, Defence Minister Peter Dutton has denied being the source of another leaked text message conversation reportedly between former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and a senior Liberal cabinet minister.
Last night, former Labor MP Bob Carr tweeted, without giving any evidence, that Mr Dutton was the anonymous minister in a conversation which described Mr Morrison as a "horrible, horrible person" and a "complete psycho".
Mr Dutton has insisted that Mr Carr delete the tweet.
Mr Littleproud challenged Mr Carr's credibility.
"The fact that it wants to be continued to be kicked along by the Labor Party, by Bob Carr of all people, I mean really, is he a credible source on Peter Dutton?" he said.
