Nationals MP Andrew Broad plans to try to topple Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce in Monday's party room meeting, unless the embattled Mr. Joyce steps down before then.

Joyce is on a week's personal leave after revelations of his personal life rocked the government.  He is living with a former staffer who is heavily pregnant with his child, while his wife and daughter remain in their home. 

On ABC Radio, The MP from Mallee, VIC Andrew Broad said Joyce needed to stand down from the leadership and "spend some time on the backbench" in "the best interests of the party, the country, and to get our narrative back on track".  He added that he said this to Joyce's face, but the Deputy PM refused to budge, claiming he needed time to "clear his head". 

Earlier, the leader of the Queensland Liberal National Party refused to support Mr. Joyce as leader of the Federal Nationals.  Responding to questions from reporters, Deb Frecklington pointedly refused to express confidence in Mr. Joyce.  "It is a matter for the federal Nationals and I'm really going to leave it at that," she said.  "All internal matters of course have been discussed internally and that's exactly what I would do, which is appropriate," Ms. Frecklington added. "That is why I can stand here and say that the matter about Barnaby Joyce is for my federal national colleagues."

Frecklington's QLD colleague Gary Spence also refused to back Barnaby Joyce.  And earlier in the week, WA Nationals leader Mia Davies said Joyce ought to quit.

The Australian reports that many Nats are grumbling in low tones over Joyce's perceived hypocrisy, having taken a hard line on scandals involving Sussan Ley and Jamie Briggs while demanding privacy for himself during this soap opera.