Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has leapt to the defence of his Nationals colleagues after Barnaby Joyce's lover Vikki Campion accused people within parliament of trying to pressure her into having an abortion.

In a television interview aired on Sunday night, Ms Campion said she was told by "conservatives" in parliament to terminate the pregnancy or risk people "coming after her".

Mr Joyce backed up her claim, describing those who told his partner to have an abortion as "absolute scum of the earth".

Mr McCormack, who replaced Mr Joyce as deputy prime minister in February, said he knew nothing of the allegations and defended his partyroom peers.

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

"If there are allegations that people are making, then perhaps they should take it up on a personal level with the people they are levelling the allegations against."

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

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

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was tight-lipped on the paid interview, other than to wish the couple and their son Sebastian well.

"I think you've had acres of news print and hours of television on this and I think we've all had enough to say," he told reporters in central-western NSW.

Mr Joyce admitted in the interview to fighting for his political survival, despite knowing his job was untenable after Ms Campion fell pregnant.

Critics are calling on the former deputy prime minister to resign from politics.

"Barnaby has taken leave from the parliament and I think he should probably pack up his office, go home and spend time with his family," Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young told the Seven Network.

Independent senator Derryn Hinch said Mr Joyce had thrown Ms Campion under the bus and was still betraying the National Party.

"I think he will finally quit; he won't stand for re-election," Senator Hinch said.

But former prime minister Tony Abbott doesn't agree.

"It's a brave person who writes off anyone in this vale of tears, even someone who is going through the wars a bit," Mr Abbott told 2GB radio.

Treasurer Scott Morrison argued it was time to move on.

Mr Joyce reclaimed his seat of New England in a by-election last December after being flushed out as a dual citizen.

He resigned the Nationals leadership in February, weeks after the affair and pregnancy were exposed.

The interview was the ninth most watched program on Australian television on Sunday, drawing an audience of 631,000.