Barnaby Joyce, a member of the Rebel Nationals, has hinted at the possibility of joining One Nation.

The former deputy prime minister made this revelation during an appearance on the Today show, amidst ongoing tensions between the National and Liberal parties over their stance on achieving net zero carbon emissions.

Rumors have circulated for weeks about Joyce’s potential defection to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. This speculation arose after he declared his intention not to seek re-election for his New England seat in New South Wales, citing conflicting policies with the Nationals Party.

Joyce has left the door open for this switch, suggesting it offers him greater influence.

“I keep the cards close to my chest … because when you’re on the backbench, that’s all you got,” he remarked.

The ex Nationals leader said he was happy with the part he played in convincing the party to abandon its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, announced last Sunday.

Joyce said he had no regrets about his role in what has become a major policy split for the Coalition, saying energy policy had contributed to its electoral defeat in May.

“We had a policy at the last election that supported net zero and we got our electoral backside handed to us on a plate.”

Liberal MPs have been holding meetings to form a united position on energy and net zero emissions.

The leadership of Sussan Ley remains under scrutiny as she tries to keep the party united in the face of dire polling numbers.

A poll released this week revealed voters are abandoning the Coaltion, with support for embattled Ley crashing.

The primary vote for the Coalition has slumped to 24 per cent, while Labor is at 36 per cent, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian.