Liberal MPs are openly calling for the Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce to quit, after an extraordinary week in Australian politics which has plunged the Coalition into civil war.

Queensland LNP senator Ian Macdonald, the longest serving member of Parliament, said Mr Joyce should quit as deputy prime minister for his own sake and for the good of the government.

Queensland LNP senator Ian Macdonald called for Mr Joyce to move to the backbench. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

“Clearly in his own interests he’d be better going to the backbench for a while, letting the dust settle and then come back and continue to make a great contribution to Australia," he said.

"He knows better than I the damage that he’s causing. Without attributing judgment to anyone, it’s just got to end. Until we get this issue off the front pages the government's just going to bleed."