A majority of Australians believe Barnaby Joyce should resign as Nationals leader following his extramarital affair with a former staffer. the latest Newspoll reveals.
Up to 65 per cent of voters across the country believe the deputy prime minister should resign with a third of those also supporting Mr Joyce to quit federal parliament.
Newspoll quizzed 1632 voters from across Australia including those from regional areas and cities for the findings released on Sunday.
Of the voters who want Mr Joyce gone 29 per cent believe the New England MP should step down as the Nationals leader but remain on the backbench while 21 per cent believe he should step down and not re-contest the next election.
Men were less forgiving with 23 per cent believing he should quit politics altogether compared to 20 per cent of women.
A quarter of regional voters wanted to see Mr Joyce resign from parliament immediately because of the love-child scandal, with just 20 per cent of city voters wanting to see him go.
Meanwhile Malcolm Turnbull's personal approval ratings fell, dropping five points to 40 per cent leaving only a seven point margin between the Liberal leader and Labor leader Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister.
The coalition primary vote also fell two points to 36 per cent and falling one point behind Labor's which remained unchanged.
The two-party-preferred vote has returned the coalition to the position it held in December trailing Labor 53 to 47.
