Barnaby Joyce has today refused to rule out defecting from the Nationals to One Nation amid continuing speculation over the former deputy prime minister's future.

Joyce told the ABC he aimed to take his seat on the Nationals' backbench when parliament returned next week.

"I'll work that out as I go along. I haven't made those decisions yet, to be honest," he said.

When questioned about his future, the veteran MP said he'd already had by announcing last week he would not contest his seat of New England in NSW at another election.

"I'll talk to people and I shall get back to you," he said.

For the past days, there have been reports One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been courting Joyce to join her populist party.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said yesterday he was determined

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