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Barnaby Joyce supported the possible transfer of National Deputy Leader Bridget McKenzie to the lower house, which could put her in the wrong light.
Senator McKenzie is moving her electoral office nearly 300 km to Wodonga in northeastern Victoria, in the heart of Cathy McGowan's independent seat.
At the same time, Mr Joyce has scrambled with Ms McGowan after the former deputy prime minister criticized MP Indi in her own local paper.
He said that she should stop her "gushy charade" after saying that she could withdraw support for the coalition if the Nationals sent Joyce back to the leadership.
"Cathy, my door is always open if you want to discuss with me anything that might have such a weight that you would make a public statement like you did," Joyce told Border Mail.
"Alternatively, please, give up with the gushy charade that is part of the misleading discussion in which you participate whenever we meet."
National spokeswoman Michelle Landry again cast doubt on an impending challenge to Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack on Thursday.
"Politics is tough, Michael is our leader now and he has the support of our party," Landry told reporters.
Last week, she conceded that Mr. Joyce would likely become the boss at some point.
Ms. Landry did not support the theory that Senator McKenzie, who was heading to Ms. McGowan's past, was probably considering going to the lower house.
"Well, I told her about it last night and she's moving her office, I think it's pretty much all right now," she said.
To challenge the national leadership, Senator McKenzie must be in the lower house.
His term in the Senate does not expire until the middle of 2022.
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