Malcolm Turnbull's call for Barnaby Joyce to consider his position may have backfired, with some Nationals digging in even more firmly behind their leader.
After the prime minister on Thursday launched a stinging criticism of Mr Joyce's affair with a staffer, the Nationals leader hit back, calling the comments "inept" and "unnecessary".
The deputy prime minister also told Mr Turnbull to butt out of National party politics after he was told to "consider his position"
"There is nothing that we dislike more than implied intervention into the party processes of the National party," Mr Joyce told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
"We are our own independent political unit - we make our own decisions, especially around those who are the office holders."
AAP understands the pressure has only made some Nationals stand even more firmly behind Mr Joyce.
