by Phillip Coorey

A week after scolding Barnaby Joyce over his extramarital affair and suggesting he consider his options, Malcolm Turnbull has backed away from the scandal surrounding the Deputy Prime Minister and paralysing the Nationals   

In Washington DC for three days, the Prime Minister declined to endorse Mr Joyce nor suggest to the junior Coalition partner what course of action it should take when the Nationals party room meets Monday.

Nationals backbencher Andrew Broad says he'll be pushing for a leadership spill and for Mr Joyce to move to the back bench. Mr Joyce's situation was compounded Thursday night following revelations that a sexual harassment claim has been lodged against him. He rejects the substance of the claim and remains adamant he will survive as leader.

Mr Joyce said Mr Broad made the same push at the last party room meting and was howled down.

With his Washington trip at risk of being overshadowed by the Joyce saga, Mr Turnbull was reluctant to engage.

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"I've got nothing to add to what I've said already said in Australia about that," he said, before adding:

"Barnaby Joyce is the leader of the National Party of Australia. He is my deputy Prime Minister.

"The leadership of the National Party is a matter for the National Party and I have been at great pains to stress that I have not, nor has my party, sought to influence in any way, the deliberations of the National Party, any more than I would expect the National Party to seek to influence deliberations of the Liberal Party."

Mr Turnbull also declined to offer advice to the US on gun laws. Last week's massacre of 17 students and teachers at a Florida high school has reignited debate in the US. Those seeking tighter access to firearms are frequently citing Australia's tough laws introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.  

Mr Turnbull said other than expressing his condolences for the Florida massacre when he meets the President at the White House Saturday morning Australian time, he would not be offering Donald  Trump any advice.

"It's not for me to get involved in a contentious domestic political debate here but Australia's experience in gun law reforms undertaken so courageously and effectively by John Howard more than 20 years ago is a very powerful demonstration of the success of our policies," he said.

"They are often cited in the debate here but we'll leave the domestic political debate to the Americans."