Barnaby Joyce's Nationals colleagues are rejecting his description of them as "scum".

Key points: During a TV interview Barnaby Joyce described Nationals who pressured Vikki Campion to have an abortion as "scum of the Earth people"

During a TV interview Barnaby Joyce described Nationals who pressured Vikki Campion to have an abortion as "scum of the Earth people" Nationals leader Michael McCormack is defending the character of his colleagues

Nationals leader Michael McCormack is defending the character of his colleagues Darren Chester suggests Mr Joyce and Ms Campion take up the issue directly with colleagues, not on TV

In a paid interview last night, Mr Joyce and his partner Vikki Campion said people on the conservative side of politics told them to have an abortion, but she did not name those people.

"I wouldn't want to tar the brush of everyone in the National Party as like that at all," she said.

Mr Joyce described those who told his partner to terminate the pregnancy if she wanted a career in Parliament House as "absolute scum of the Earth people".

Nationals leader Michael McCormack, who replaced Mr Joyce as Deputy Prime Minister, said on Monday he knew nothing about it.

"If there was a conversation made, then that was a conversation made between the alleged person who said it and Barnaby and Vikki," Mr McCormack said.

"If there is anything else to be said, that should be between Barnaby and Vikki and whomever they are alleging made the comments."

Michael McCormack describes his colleagues as "the finest people in regional Australia". ( ABC News: Matt Roberts )

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he was not aware of anyone pressuring Ms Campion.

"I am not aware of anybody doing that, I can absolutely give you that assurance," Mr Turnbull said.

He said he wished the couple and their son Sebastian well, but refused to say if he thought Mr Joyce should run again at the next election.

Nationals minister Darren Chester also said the issue of whether Ms Campion was pressured was a very personal matter "that should be followed up with those individuals privately, not on national television".

"I don't think name-calling achieves anything in public life," Mr Chester said.

He said he had not watched last night's interview.

"I lived through it once, I didn't need to live through it again," Mr Chester said.

Nationals 'finest people in regional Australia'

Both Mr Chester and Mr McCormack defended the character of their Nationals colleagues.

"They are the finest people in regional Australia and I am proud to serve with each and every one of them," Mr McCormack said.

Mr Chester urged the couple to resolve any issues they had with people directly, "not collectively describe people in that manner".

Mr Joyce revealed in the interview he knew that his then-staff member's pregnancy would cost him his job as deputy prime minister.

But he went on to fight a by-election without revealing his personal circumstances.

Former Nationals leader Tim Fischer said Mr Joyce had a lot of bridge-building to do.

He said it was not certain Mr Joyce would be chosen again to run for the seat of New England, or that he would win it.

"It will be the people of New England, National Party pre-selectors and the electors at large who will decide whether they want another term of Barnaby or not," Mr Fischer said.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott said he had not seen the interview, but that he thought Mr Joyce could continue his political career.

"This is obviously a very low point in his public life, let's just see what happens," Mr Abbott told 2GB.

"I think that if he wants to he still has quite a bit more to give to our country."