Anti-abortion advocate Barnaby Joyce stops short at saying abortion should remain a crime for women who choose to undergo the procedure without the go-ahead from a doctor.

SENIOR Turnbull Government Minister Christopher Pyne says Barnaby Joyce will make an ``excellent Deputy Prime Minister’’.

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As supporters line-up to support the Agriculture Minister, one Nationals Senator today refused to reveal who she would back when Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss resigns. Mr Truss is expected to resign in February or March to allow his successor enough time to ingratiate themselves with the public ahead of the next election and give them one of the top seats at the Expenditure Review Committee, which makes budget decisions.

“If he does stand down, the National Party if they choose Barnaby Joyce — which I seem to think they will, given the publicity recently — he will be an excellent Deputy Prime Minister,” Mr Pyne told Channel 9 today.

“He has a focused view on creating jobs, particularly in rural and regional Australia.

“In terms of his handling of the agricultural portfolio, it is booming.”

But Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie dismissed the leadership talk as media speculation.

She refused to name who she support when Mr Truss resigns to the backbench.

She said the Nationals had a “sensible and stable, traditional approach to leadership transition”.

``I think Australia is very, very well served by Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss at the moment,” she said.

EARLIER: Barnaby Joyce faces a fight to win the leadership of the National Party after two contenders yesterday refused to rule out taking him on.

As an anti-Joyce camp yesterday privately accused the Agriculture Minister of trying to pressure Deputy Prime Minister and fellow Queenslander Warren Truss to announce the date of his anticipated retirement, one highly placed source said Mr Joyce may have to battle Luke Hartsuyker and Michael McCormack for the top job.

BARNABY: The man who would be PM

Mr McCormack, Mr Truss’s assistant minister, and Mr Hartsuyker told The Courier-Mail yesterday it was premature to talk about a new leader but did not rule out trying for the position.

Mr Truss, the Member for Wide Bay, is widely expected to step down as leader of the Nationals – a title which also comes with that of deputy prime minister – between February and March.

Mr Joyce raised some eyebrows within the party yesterday after he told Fairfax he could do Mr Truss’s job.

“I’ve supported Warren publicly and privately and if he steps down I will throw my hat in the ring,” Mr Joyce said.

“The closer you get to the job – and I am close, being the deputy – the more aware you become of the work involved. It’s a job I can do but I’m not in a rush.

“I’ve had shadow portfolios, been leader in the Senate, deputy leader of the party, been a successful minister. That’s what counts. That’s how people judge you when you’re running for bigger things.”

A spokesman for Mr Joyce said he was on holiday.

“But as he has said many times previously, Warren Truss should remain as leader as long as he wishes to stay,’’ the spokesman said

“In the event of Mr Truss choosing to retire, Mr Joyce has declared would be a candidate.”

Mr McCormack said Mr Truss would retire on his own terms.

“I get the sense he’s (Mr Truss) gearing up for this year (because of large infrastructure projects being rolled out),’’ he said.

“I’m a very big supporter of Barnaby Joyce. He tells it like it is.

“He’s good for the party, Barnaby Joyce, but there’s 19 others as well. Some of us fly under the radar.’’

He said the Nationals had been led by great leaders, and anyone would want their names sitting next to those of Tim Fischer, John Anderson and Mark Vaile.

Mr Hartsuyker would not confirm or deny he would be a contender.

Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop said Mr Joyce was doing a “very fine” job,’ but Acting Opposition Leader Penny Wong raised concerns.

“Barnaby is very entertaining, but he is erratic, and that’s the last thing you want in someone who is one step away from being the prime minister and who is called upon to act as prime minister,’’ she said.