Nationals leader Michael McCormack defended his party on Monday after Vikki Campion accused parliamentarians of trying to pressure her into having an abortion.
In a teary television interview aired on Sunday night, Ms Campion said she was told by "people within the parliament" to have an abortion or risk people "coming after her".
Mr McCormack, who replaced Mr Joyce as deputy prime minister in February, said he won't be investigating the allegations within his party.
They are the finest people in regional Australia Nationals leader Michael McCormack
"They are the finest people in regional Australia and I'm proud to serve with each and every one of them," he told reporters in Sydney on Monday.
"If there are accusations to be made, this is an intensely personal matter, and Vikki and Barnaby should take that up with the people who they allege made the accusations."
"I know nothing about it. I, like everyone else, only saw what I saw last night."
Mr Joyce has admitted to fighting for his political survival despite knowing his job was untenable after Ms Campion fell pregnant.
Nationals Michael McCormack at Parliament House on May 22. Source: AAP
Critics of Mr Joyce are calling on the former deputy prime minister to resign.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said it was time for Mr Joyce to retire from public office.
"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," she told the Seven Network on Monday.
"He will never be the deputy prime minister again. He will never be the leader of the Nationals, and I don't think he will ever get re- elected in the seat of New England."
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.
"He can't get the leadership back, he can't get back into cabinet."
However, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton believes the interview has "drawn a line in the sand".
"It's now a private issue and it's not a political issue," he told Sky News.
Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie said she felt people had heard enough of the story, and Australians were ready to move on.
Mr Joyce campaigned and retained his seat of New England in a by-election last December brought about by a High Court ruling that he was a dual citizen.
He resigned the Nationals leadership in late February, weeks after the affair and pregnancy were sensationally revealed in tabloid newspapers.
"Toward the end, I was fighting more out of spite than logic," he said.
But Mr Joyce hit out at Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for calling a press conference to criticise his judgment.
